New Delhi, July 26: In an unusual practice, Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, prior to presenting his views on issues relating to minority educational institutions before an eleven-judge constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday, chose to deride a media report that there was rift between him and the Centre. "There is no question of any confrontation with the Government of India nor any rift between the Attorney General and the Solicitor General nor any pressure by the Government as has been mischievously reported in one national daily," he said in a categorical statement in a jam-packed Chief Justice's Court.
"This is wishful thinking and wild imagining," he said in his introductory statement before the Bench comprising Chief Justice B N Kirpal, Justice G B Pattanaik, Justice V N Khare, Justice S Rajendra Babu, Justice S S M Quadri, Justice Ruma Pal, Justice S N Variva, Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justice P V Reddi, Justice Ashok Bhan and Justice Arijit pasayat.
Stating that he had appeared in the earlier round of litigations on the present issue for a party against the Centre, he said if any party had any reservations on that score on his appearance, he would not mind "at all" if he was relieved from appearing before the Bench as Attorney General.
Once all the parties to the litigation unanimously said that they had no objection to the appearance of AG, Sorabjee said "I want to make it clear that I am not appearing for or against the Government of India or any of the parties. Bureau Report