Gopal Subramanium's resignation accepted

New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) Indian government Thursday
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 of India.
Sources said Indian 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.
Indian 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 Wednesday,
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.