Law Ministry gives Show Cause Notice as ASG gives private appearance in court

The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) of India, A.S. Chandhiok has sparked up controversy and has landed himself in a jam. The ASG gave an appearance in the Delhi High Court representing a private firm against a public interest litigation (PIL) and recently raised questions, regarding the decision of the Government of India on the transfer of a High Court judge..The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) of India, A.S. Chandhiok (pictured) has sparked up controversy and has landed himself in a jam. The ASG gave an appearance in the Delhi High Court representing a private firm against a public interest litigation (PIL) and recently raised questions, regarding the decision of the Government of India on the transfer of a High Court judge..The ASG who also is the President of the Delhi High Court Bar Association, appeared for New Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) in a PIL which raised issues pertaining to the settlement of power tariffs. The Times of India quotes Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Manmohan being surprised by the ASG representing the NDPL. The Bench said, “We assumed you were appearing on behalf of the Government! The ASG’s apt reply was “I am only there for my Lordship’s assistance”..The ASG attracted attention yet again when he gave a farewell speech in front of a full court, for Justice Aggarwal by remarking on the Government’s decision to transfer the High Court judge to Madhya Pradesh when Justice Aggarwal has only two years to serve..Bar & Bench had first reported in July about the ASG backing a private firm, CIMMCO Birla in landing a contract for a tender to the Indian Railways. The firm CIMMCO is now pressing the railways to consider its case for a lucrative contract, saying the ministry is legally bound to consider it, as a serving ASG has opined so..Abhishek Manu Singhvi was caught in a similar jam when he represented a lottery tycoon in the Kerala High Court alongside being a spokesperson for the Congress..Can an ASG act as a legal counsel to a private party when he is in the service of the Government? According to law a mandatory permission is required from the Government, by the public servant before he / she decides to represent a private party in court. An RTI filed by activist Subhash Chandra Aggarwal shows that the Ministry of Law & Justice was unaware if Chandhiok had sought permission from the ministry before making a private appearance.