Govt to decide on SG's resignation in 2-3 days

Government will take a decision in the next "two to three days" on the resignation of Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium who has so far refused to reconsider his decision despite being asked by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Law Minister M Veerappa Moily today discussed the issue with the Prime Minister and also spoke with Subramanium at least thrice in the day, sources said.

Significantly, Moily, who had asked Subramanium to reconsider his decision on Saturday, did not press him to withdraw the resignation today, the sources said.

Subramanium, who has resigned following appointment of a private advocate to represent Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal in a case of PIL against him, was not seen in the Supreme Court today.

"No decision has been taken so far on the resignation of the Solicitor General. A decision is expected in the next two or three days," top sources in the government said.

Meanwhile, sources close to Subramanium said he has not yet decided on the issue of withdrawing his resignation.

Sources in the Law Ministry said the issue of hiring Rohington Nariman on 'special engagement' was "over" as the Supreme Court has refrained from passing any order on a PIL filed against Sibal, accusing him of reducing a penalty amount to favour Anil Ambani-headed Reliance Telecom.

"He is on our panel and we had hired him on July 9 for the limited purpose of appearing before the SC on the affidavit filed against Sibal," they said.

Moily, who was in Bangalore when Subramanium sent his resignation to the Prime Minister, met the latter this morning to discuss the controversy surrounding the issue.