New Delhi, Nov. 30: The Supreme Court today questioned attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi for appearing against a folk artiste facing sedition charges for allegedly uploading "defamatory" songs against Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa, springing the poser amid the intolerance debate.

The attorney-general, the country's highest law officer, is appointed by the Centre but states also engage him in important matters.

"Why should the attorney-general appear against small persons (like Kovan)? Is it such a big case that the office of the attorney-general should be engaged? We see no merits. We don't want to interfere with the high court order. Dismissed," a bench of Justices Ibrahim Kalifulla and Uday Lalit observed, dismissing a state appeal.

The Jayalalithaa government had engaged Rohatgi for seeking two days' police custody of Kovan. The folk singer was arrested on October 30 over video clips of his songs that suggested the government was promoting the liquor industry and ruining lakhs of poor and middle class families. He was charged with sedition and disturbing public peace.

Kovan, 54, was released on bail on November 16 by the principal sessions judge, Chennai, but a trial court later allowed the police to take him into custody for questioning. Later, Madras High Court stayed the trial court order, prompting the state to move the apex court.

The high court had castigated the prosecution for including in the FIR Section 66 (A) of the Information Technology Act, struck down by the apex court last year as a draconian law that muzzled free speech.