Union law and justice minister M. Veerappa Moily has, in a letter to attorney-general of India G.E. Vahanvati stated that several law officers were going out of Delhi taking advantage of the ongoing summer vacations in Supreme Court without seeking permission of the government.
Dr Moily has pointed out to the AG that this absence of law officers has created a difficulty for the government to get prompt legal opinion on many important issues.
“It is understood that most of the law officers leave the station without obtaining permission of the government. This will jeopardise the normal functioning of the ministry of law and justice,” Dr Moily stated in a letter to the AG.
The law minister added that “all law officers are requested to ensure that appropriate adjustment or accommodation is re-worked by themselves to ensure that the working of the ministry does not suffer.”
The law minister’s remarks are understood to have been prompted after it was reported to him that several law officers had proceeded on leave without seeking the requisite permission from the ministry. Criticising the current situation Mr Moily stated, “I am told that almost all law officers are not available to attend the court cases and to render opinions during vacations in the Supreme Court.”
“Although there may be vacations in the court, the opinion in important matters is required to be given by the law officers,” Dr Moily adds in his letter to the AG. A copy of this letter is in the possession of this newspaper.