SC pulls up Centre for not being serious in 2G spectrum case

New Delhi, Aug 2: The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Centre for "not being serious" in the 2G spectrum matter after no law officer appeared on its behalf.

"It is unfortunate that the Union of India is not serious in the matter and that is why nobody is appearing. They think it is a matter between CBI and the petitioners," a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishnan said during the hearing concerning the Aircel-Maxis deal. "None has appeared on behalf of the Union of India.

We would like the Attorney General to assist us," the bench said while asking the courtmaster to send a message to Attorney General G E Vahanvati to appear before it. However, after sometime, the bench was told that the Attorney General has left the court for seeing a doctor. The apex court was also anguished that there have been more than one law officer appearing in the matter in different hearings making things difficult during the hearing.

"When there are more than one Additional Solicitor General (appearing in different hearings), there is no certainity and clarity," the bench said while making it clear that the law officer, who is fully conversant with the entire facet of the 2G case, should assist it. "There can be some nexus in the different matters arising out of the 2G spectrum case. They (law officers) can speak on those aspects," the bench said.

It made the remarks by citing the day's proceeding in the Niira Radia tape case in which various issues have cropped up from the report submitted by the apex-court appointed special team which prepared the transcripts of the tapped conversations.

PTI