Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has ordered the removal of two government advocates in New Delhi [Images], who had failed to file a counter in the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project bandh contempt case in the Supreme Court.

A release from the Secretariat in Chennai on Monday night said Karunanidhi, on learning about the issue, found that the present situation arose because the state government advocates in New Delhi did not take action in time. The issue was also not brought to his notice earlier, he added.

The chief minister said the two lawyers V G Prakasam and Harishkumar did not bring to his noice the gravity of the situation and the need to file the affidavits in time. Hence, the government is ordering for their removal, he added.

He said the government has always upheld the supremacy of law.

It may be recalled that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo and opposition leader J Jayalalithaa had filed a contempt petition against Karunanidhi, alleging that the state government had ignored the Supreme Court order.

The Supreme Court served a contempt notice on the chief minister and others in October 2007, but only the chief secretary and director general of police had responded.