Former SG argues against govt in SC

A month after he resigned from the solicitor general’s post, senior advocate Gopal Subramanium on Friday argued a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the government in the Supreme Court.

A month after he resigned from the solicitor general’s post, senior advocate Gopal Subramanium on Friday argued a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the government in the Supreme Court.

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The PIL, filed by former Air Force chief, V Krishnaswamy, challenged a government notification that empowers the finance minister to appoint two members of his choice to the committee that selects members to market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The notification amended the 1992 rules of appointing selection committee’s members.

With the amendment the number of committee members were increased from five to seven, of which two are government nominees and two are finance minister appointees.

A bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia agreed with Subramanium that the PIL raised an important issue. It, however, refused to entertain it on the ground it made personal allegations against individuals. The bench asked Subramanium to withdraw the allegations.

“We would only deal with an issue that is supported with some legal provisions. The petition would not be heard if its a riff-raff,” the bench said.

Subramanium withdrew the plea after the court gave him liberty to file a fresh petition.