New Delhi, Jul 14: Government today accepted the resignation of Solictor General Gopal Subramanium, five days after he took the step as he was upset over appointment of a private advocate to represent Telecom Ministry in a case in the Supreme Court.
Sources said Law Minister Salman Khurshid accepted the resignation and it was conveyed to Subramanium.
53-year-old Subramanium was appointed the Solicitor General on June 15, 2009 for a three-year term.
He stirred a controversy by suddenly resigning on Saturday last after a private advocate was appointed by the government to represent Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal in a PIL filed against him, alleging that he had favoured Reliance Telecom.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then Law Minister Veerappa Moily had talked to him to persuade him not to quit but he insisted on doing so.
Subsequently, the government took a tough stand and made it clear that it would no longer persuade him.
Soon after taking charge of the Law Ministry yesterday, Khurshid had said he would address the issue with an “open mind” at the earliest as it has generated a lot of controversy.
“...a lot of water has already flown under the bridge before I came. I will take a quick stock of the situation and in consultation with the Prime Minister I will take a decision as per the directions available from him,” he said.
“I leave the office of the Solicitor General of India with pride. I am grateful to God that I had this opportunity (to serve as SG),” Subramanium told PTI when contacted. Earlier, Subramanium had said that he resigned to keep the dignity of the post.
Within 13 years of starting his career as an advocate in 1980, Subramaniam's erudite arguments impressed the Supreme Court to such an extent that it had suo motu decided to designate him as a senior advocate in 1993. A noted criminal lawyer, he was appointed as Special Public Prosecutor in the Parliament attack case. He is credited with the conviction of Manu Sharma in the Jessica Lal murder case after he was asked to represent the prosecution in the High Court.
With his resignation having been accepted, a search has begun for a new Solicitor General - the second seniormost law officer of the government after the Attorney General. PTI
