Decision on SG after consultations with PM: Khurshid

Salman Khurshid, who assumed charge as law minister on Wednesday, made it clear that a decision on the resignation of Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium will be taken after consultations with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Khurshid also said he had an "open mind" on the issue which he wanted to resolve at the earliest. "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.

Khurshid said he will take a decision on the issue which has generated a lot of controversy, "as quickly as I can".

In reply to a question on as to whether he has made up his mind on Subramanium issue, he said, "I am joining the law ministry with an open mind."

Subramanium, who has been appearing for the government in the 2G related cases in the Supreme Court, had termed as "unfair" the law ministry's decision to field Rohington Nariman as counsel for Union of India in a public interest litigation by a non-government organisation against Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal without his consent.

Slighted by the appointment of the counsel without taking him into confidence, Subramanium had sent his resignation to Dr Singh on Saturday and to then law minister Veerappa Moily on Monday. He had also met President Pratibha Patil.