Govt to take collective decision on AG's opinion on graft

Government today said it will take a "collective decision" on Attorney General's opinion recommending going for a review petition in the Supreme Court on its verdict on the time limit to grant sanction to prosecute public servants in graft cases.

"...an opinion is an opinion. It is not a decision. Decision has to be taken by government...collective decision will be taken under the directions of the Prime Minister," Law Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters here.

But at the same time, he added that Attorney General G E Vahanvati's opinion carried "enormous weightage" as he is the legal advisor to the government and placed in a constitutional position.

He said he would give his input on the opinion sought by the Prime Minister's Office if he is required to. In his opinion to the Prime Minister's Office, Vahanvati is learnt to have said the Centre can seek a review of the apex court ruling that government will have to give nod to an investigating agency to prosecute guilty ministers, officials or any other public servant within four months of the request.

The government had recently sought the legal opinion of its top law officer on whether it should seek a review of a part of the Supreme Court judgement on 2G spectrum scam case in which it had made it compulsory to grant prosecution sanction to the investigating agency against corrupt public servants within four months of the request.

The PMO is understood to have also sought to know whether the judgement has made any adverse comments on any of its officials. The AG is learnt to have said that the judgement made no adverse comments.