India, July 30 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Bihar government over the continuation of minister Deepak Prakash without being an elected member of the assembly and sought a response by Tuesday.

"How is the state retaining a minister if he is not elected?" asked Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant after the court was told that the state is yet to file a response to a petition challenging Prakash's reappointment.

Advocate Sudeep Chandra, who appeared for petitioner Rakesh Kumar Singh, sought an urgent listing of the matter as Prakash continued in office. He said that notice was issued on Singh's public interest litigation on June 15 and the state is yet to respond.

The CJI accepted the mentioning request and posted t...