Don't play politics: SC to Maya

The court also asked the government in Uttar Pradesh to defend itself against the submission which urged the apex court to initiate contempt proceedings for violating its September 8 order directing the authorities to stop construction at a park in Lucknow.

“As a prudent government, you should have stopped the work. You seem to take this court as (your) adversary,’’ said a bench comprising Justices B N Agrawal and Aftab Alam.

While asking the government to defend, the bench said: “It seems as if it was a willful defiance. You force us to look at it with suspicion.’’ The Gomti Nagar Jan Kalayn Maha Samiti submitted that contempt proceedings be initiated against the State Government as construction was carried out in the park in Lucknow despite an apex court direction to stall work pending disposal of the petition.

Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Samiti, said the affidavits filed by newspapers and TV channels pointed to construction at the site on September 25 and later dates. “The state administration was carrying out construction work to complete the installation of the statues of Dalit leaders before the next date of hearing,’’ he said.

Humble apology

Advocates Harish Salve and Satish Mishra defended the State Government, saying the photographs that accompanied news reports were of some other sites, which were not mentioned in the petition.

“It is respectfully submitted that if any transgression has occurred, I tender the most profuse apology and humbly submit that the same was entirely unintended,” said the state chief secretary in the affidavit.