Law Ministry appoints Rohinton Nariman in 2G Scam case Solicitor-General Subramanium resigns PM to take a call today

Gopal Subramanium has offered to step down as Solicitor-General in order to protect the dignity of his office. Subramanium submitted his resignation after the Centre decided to appoint Senior Advocate Rohinton Nariman instead of him in the Supreme Court in the 2G scam case..Gopal Subramanium has offered to step down as Solicitor-General in order to protect the dignity of his office. Subramanium submitted his resignation after the Centre decided to appoint Senior Advocate Rohinton Nariman instead of him in the Supreme Court in the 2G scam case..The Prime Minister will today take a call on whether to accept Subramanium’s resignation..SG Subramanium has already received flak from the Government about his handling of the Black money and the Salwa Judum cases. The Supreme Court had come down heavily on the Government on both these matters last week..The Government was reportedly unhappy over the handling of the 2G related cases. SG Subramanium had come under attack from within the Government when the Supreme Court directed the Government to file an affidavit on the alleged “inaction” by the PM in the 2G licence allocation by the now jailed DMK leader A Raja. SG Subramanium was handed over the Department of Telecom’s defence and the defence of Prime Minister was taken away from him. Attorney-General G. E. Vahanvati was personally asked to handle the affairs of protecting the Prime Minister’s office in the entire 2G case in the Supreme Court..At this point, the provocation for Subramanium’s resignation seems to be coming from the roping in of private Senior Counsel to fight the Government’s side in the 2G case. SG Subramanium also spoke to NDTV where he said “he quit to uphold the dignity of the Solicitor General”..SG Subramanium told HT, “It is not a matter merely concerning an individual lawyer. I decided to take this step since I felt it was my duty to fight for the dignity of the solicitor general’s office”. Asked whether he would withdraw his resignation, Subramanium was non-committal. “It would depend on the government’s response from the top level”. He further added, “Such posts of constitutional functionaries need to be treated with respect”..The Solicitor General’s resignation has been backed by legal luminaries..Former Chief Justice of India J.S. Verma supported Subramanium’s stand. Justice Verma speaking to NDTV said, “I would have done the same, had I been in his position. The government could have handled the delicate situation better”. Justice Verma was seconded by former attorney general Soli J. Sorabjee..Justice Verma further said, “both Subramanium and Nariman are good lawyers who believe in ethical values and the government with its reckless handling has made a grave error by pitting them against each other”..In the 2G case, the petitioner, the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, has filed an application making allegations against telecom minister Kapil Sibal and Attorney general GE Vahanvati. Kapil Sibal is accused of bending rules to favour Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications, a charge that he has vehemently denied. The Government does not want to take any chances in defending this case and therefore, has appointed Rohinton Nariman to defend the Government..The Government seems to be facing turbulent times and has been cornered on several cases and the resignation of Solicitor General could be a fall out of that..According to media reports, Solicitor-General is now awaiting a response from the Prime Minister’s Office. There are reports that Subramanium’s deputy and co-counsel, Additional Solicitor General Amarjeet Singh Chandiok, may follow suit and step down.