Law Min seeks AG's opinion on 2G judgement

New Delhi, Feb 9 (PTI) The government has sought legal opinion of its top law officer on whether it should seek a review of a part of the Supreme Court judgement on 2G making it compulsory to decide on prosecution sanctions within four months after the request is made by an investigative agency. The Law Ministry has written to Attorney General Goolam Vahanvati to give his opinion on the issue. The ministry's move comes after the Prime Minister's Office is learnt to have sought its views on the judgement. The PMO is also understood to have sought to know whether the judgement has made any adverse comments on any of its officials. It is learnt that the reply to the PMO has to be made in the next week. Sources termed the communication from the PMO as "routine" saying such opinions from law officers are sought after important court orders. Indicting the PMO but letting the Prime Minister off lightly on failure to decide on prosecuting the then telecom minister A Raja in the 2G case, the Supreme Court had in its judgement on January 31 set a limit of four months for deciding sanction for prosecution of corrupt public servants. The apex court blamed the PMO for sitting on the plea to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for granting sanction to prosecute Raja and said that those who were "duty bound" to apprise the Prime Minister about the "seriousness" of the allegations to enable him to take appropriate decision in the matter "failed" to do so. The court said sanction should be granted within a time frame and the competent authority shall take action in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the apex court in the Vineet Narain case of 1998 (three months for grant of sanction and additional one month time may be allowed where consultation is required with the Attorney General).