Questioning the appointment of Shashank Shekhar Singh, who is not an IAS officer, as Uttar Pradesh cabinet secretary, the supreme court on Monday said there have to be rules and regulations for such crucial postings.

A bench of justices B S Chauhan and T S Thakur said people like Sam Pitroda, who are having expertise in technical field, are appointed as adviser but for the posts like that of cabinet secretary, there have to be proper procedures.

"If someone is an expert in a field like computer and who has done exceptionally well in his field, like Sam Pitroda, he can be appointed as adviser but for these posts (cabinet secretary etc), there have to be rules and regulations," the bench said.

"How can you pick up someone and appoint him to the post? There have to be rules and regulations," it said.

The bench made the remarks while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging Singh's appointment as UP cabinet secretary by the Mayawati government and seeking his removal on the ground that he is not an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service.

The apex court had earlier sought replies of the centre and the Mayawati government on the PIL filed by Uttar Pradesh resident Harish Chandra Pandey.