New Delhi, April 5 (IANS) The government Tuesday voiced its reluctance to the appointment of senior Supreme Court counsel U.U. Lalit as special public prosecutor in the trial of the 2G spectrum case.

It told the apex court that such an appointment may not be in conformity with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and would be open to challenge.

An apex court bench headed by Justice G.S Singhvi was told that under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, a person to be appointed as special public prosecutor should have served under the union/state for seven years.

When the court asked if in the interest of substantive justice it could not appoint the special public prosecutor, Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati said the powers of the court under article 142 of the constitution did not include appointment of public prosecutor.

The court adjourned the matter and will take it up Friday.

On April 1, the apex court was informed that Uday Lalit will be the special public prosecutor leading the CBI's case in the court.

Lalit's name came up in the wake of the apex court insisting that the Central Bureau of Investigation that is probing the 2G case should have a special public prosecutor.