State Advocate General SP Gupta on Friday resigned his post citing personal reasons. Gupta was appointed to the post to represent the state Government at the Allahabad High Court and its bench in lucknow after the Samajwadi Party came to power in March 2012.
Gupta was at loggerheads with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh, which accused him of creating hurdles in the implementation of schemes announced by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for the welfare of advocates. His ripe age of 83 years and his reluctance to oblige the advocates affiliated to the Samajwadi Party are also believed to be the reasons for his exit.
Gupta was appointed Advocate General of the state on March 19 last year, a few days after the Samajwadi Party formed Government. He was Advocate General of the state during the Samajwadi Party regime in 1995. Bar Council vice-president Janki Sharan Pandey said the state Government should appoint someone on the post who could implement the welfare schemes for lawyers.
Gupta said he wished to quit as his age was affecting him to work to his full potential. Enrolled as an advocate of the Allahabad High Court way back in 1960, Gupta became a designated senior advocate in 1979. He was associated with the First Judges' case of 1982, which was followed by two more such cases that led the way to Collegium system for appointment, transfer and promotion of judges in the higher judiciary.