Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Akhand Pratap Singh, whose appointment to the post by Mulayam Singh Yadav government was challenged in the Supreme Court, resigned on Wednesday night.

In a letter to the chief minister, Singh requested him to relieve him of responsibilities with immediate effect.

Singh, who was granted three months extension on October 31 last after his retirement, said in his resignation letter that his extension be treated as cancelled with immediate effect.

A Lucknow-based journalist alleging serious corruption charges against Singh challenged the extension in the Supreme Court.

Hearing the petition on November 26, an apex court bench, comprising N Santosh Hegde and Justice B P Singh had asked Uttar Pradesh government whether he was the only IAS officer suited for the job.

The resignation of Singh came two days ahead of another hearing at the apex court on the matter.

Senior advocate Shanti Bhushan, appearing for petitioner Sharad Chandra Pradhan, had contended on November 26 that the Union government on the one hand was seeking permission of the state government to initiate inquiry into the corruption charges against Singh but on the other hand extension of service was being granted.

He said Singh had been declared as 'one of the most corrupt civil servants' by the association of IAS officers in Uttar Pradesh and added the Union Cabinet Secretary had even opposed the extension move.

Solicitor General Kirit N Raval said it was wrong to say that the Cabinet Secretary had opposed the extension granted to Singh.

The Supreme Court had said, "In Uttar Pradesh are there no officers worth holding the office of chief secretary or is Singh the only officer suited for the office?"

The state government defended the extension granted to Singh saying he is being kept in service because of his association in the preparation of the budget and that the extension was only up to January 31 next year.

Singh said in his letter that he did not want to make the chief minister and the prime minister a centre of controversy.

Singh said he was given the responsibility of finalising the state budget during his extension and added, "There are other people who are capable of undertaking the responsibility."

He said as the budget had already been tabled in the state assembly his colleagues could also fulfil the job.

The chief secretary said the decision to grant him an extension of three months was unnecessarily made a centre of controversy.

On being asked about the reasons prompting his sudden decision to resign, Singh said he had taken the decision on 'the call of his conscience'.

"As late as 1830 hours today the thought of resigning did not come to his mind but it suddenly occurred to me that I should resign," Singh said.

"Then I took the decision and went to the chief minister with my letter and informed him about my decision," he said.

Asked whether he would accept any other responsibility given to him by the government, Singh said he had very cordial relations with Mulayam Singh Yadav and would accept whatever responsibility is given to him.

Singh said in his letter that he had submitted a detailed affidavit in the Supreme Court with regard to the pending dispute over the decision to grant him extension and hoped that it would be found satisfactory.

Singh was appointed chief secretary of the state in September last soon after the Mulayam Singh Yadav government took over.