Lucknow, Dec 04: Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Akhand Pratap Singh today stepped down from office to set at rest a controversy sparked by his three-month extension. Singh told a news conference here that he had tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.
''As the state budget has already been presented, my colleagues can easily carry out the task easily,'' Singh, who was granted extension till January, said in his resignation letter to the Chief Minister.
His extension was earlier challenged in the Supreme Court by a local journalist. The Supreme Court subsequently also questioned the UP government move.
''Following this, I submitted an affidavit with the Supreme Court and I hope my papers would be found in order,'' he said, adding that he only wanted to keep the office of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister away from any controversy.
The plea was due to be heard on December 05.
Earlier, the Centre had on two occasions asked the state government to carry out a CBI probe against Singh over allegations of wrongdoing, but its request was turned down.
On October 31, Singh was granted a three-month extension as up chief secretary to help then new Mulayam Singh Yadav government table its budget.
Bureau Report