Standing counsel quits, another on way out

 Although no reasons are said to have been forwarded for the removal of Hegde, the state government asked him to tender his resignation. Informed sources said Hegde was serving for a long time – 11 years – and the state administration needed someone else.

However, the reason for the government’s decision to end Shenoy’s services seems to be something different. The state government is said to have been none too happy that she refused to handle a case relating to Legislative Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah. Also, that she was appearing in cases against Gujarat riots [for the National Human Rights Commission] as well as for Telecom Minister A Raja did not go well with the BJP government, it is said.

Gujarat is being ruled by the BJP while Raja belongs to DMK, a partner in the Congress-led UPA. The BJP is stalling the Parliament proceedings, demanding the resignation of Raja over the spectrum allocation issue.

Shenoy told Deccan Herald that she would not like to make any comments but added that she had not received anything in writing from the Karnataka government. Karnataka Advocate General Ashok Harnahalli was not available for reaction. Supreme Court advocate Raghupati is the other remaining standing counsel for the state government.