NEW DELHI, July 19 -- The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the trial court proceedings against former Bihar chief minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI's) land-for-jobs case and asked him to pursue challenge before the Delhi high court. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh asked the Delhi high court to expedite the hearing on his plea for quashing of the CBI FIR filed on May 18, 2022, and also granted exemption from his appearance before trial court on grounds of health condition. "We will not stay the high court order. Meanwhile, we can direct his personal presence during trial to be dispensed with. This is such a small matter, let the matter continue before the high court," the bench said. "Considering the fact and circumstances of the case, we are inclined to pass further order to the effect that he may not be personally present and therefore his appearance is dispensed with. We request the High Court to expedite the hearing," the bench said. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Prasad said, "This is the most unfortunate case. They have filed FIR in 2022 for allegations that pertain to the period when he was a minister from 2004 to 2009. Investigation cannot start without obtaining sanction under section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act." The HC had discarded this submission by allowing Prasad to raise this argument at the time of framing of charge before the trial court....