Fly on the wall

Unlawful practice
THE Law Ministry is seriously considering a suggestion to impose a ban on private practice of all government law officers, including the Attorney-General (AG) and Solicitor General (SG). Though the practice to allow the AG and SGs to accept briefs from private companies has been in vogue since time immemorial, the Ram Jethmalani-Soli Sorabjee duel has highlighted the issue like never before. No doubt, there were occasions when M.C. Setalwad (AG) and his junior C.K. Daftary (SG) appeared for rival parties in court; when Lal Narain Sinha (AG) gave his opinion to Swraj Paul on whether the purchase of shares in Escort fell within the ambit of FERA; when Ram Jethmalani himself gave permission to S.B. Jaisinghani (Additional SG) to appear against the government in criminal cases. Now, though, it’s being suggested to Law Minister Arun Jaitley that dual perks of top law officers be banned. Either they serve the government or do private practice. The AG, who gets Rs 5,000 per month fixed as allowance, may be given ahandsome salary for appearance and opinion in cases. Any takers?

Anxiety time for Advani
Union Home Minister L.K. Advani’s repeated pleas to Ram Jethmalani fell on deaf ears since the latter thought his `personal honour’ was above that of the party. It was Advani who ensured that Jethmalani got the Rajya Sabha ticket. He ensured the withdrawal of a powerful Independent candidate belonging to the Zee group. Advani also ensured Jethmalani’s return to the ministry as well. But all in vain. He was also peeved with Sushma Swaraj, who tried to nail his junior in the Rajya Sabha on the proposed new TADA bill during Question Hour. Advani got so angry with Sushma’s query that he intervened to rebuke the suggestion. This rattled everybody, including Sushma, who, after all, has been groomed by none other Advani himself. It is a different matter that Advani rang up next morning to tell Sushma that no inferences be drawn of his outbursts.

Only on paper
Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan is struggling hard to put the newly created ministry in order. For one, his dream of making it a `paperless’ ministry before August 15 has been converted into one with `less paper’. Now, Mahajan is trying to put NICNET in order, which is neither a department nor a corporation. The other day, he learnt to his shock that though a state-of-the-art technology, called Sky Blaster, is available for $2,000 a piece at a higher bandwidth, NICNET is buying outdated Israeli V-SAT at $4,000 plus a piece. Now, Majahan is determined to launch a probe into the matter.

The price of passion
Minister of State for Law, O.Rajagopal, became a victim of somebody’s else passion. He lost the Law portfolio along with his senior minister, Ram Jethmalani. When the charge of the Law Ministry was handed over to Arun Jaitley, he had to be moved out since a MoS cannot function under another MoS holding independent charge. He was assisting Pramod Mahajan in the Parliamentary Affairs too. Now, Rajagopal is pleading with Advani to do justice to him. Since Bangaru Laxman will not remain MoS Railways after taking over as the BJP chief, Rajagopal may get railways.

Overheard
When asked about the progress on disinvestment, a young Union Minister quipped: “The biggest disinvestment has already taken place.” The reference being to the exit of Ram Jethmalani from the Union Cabinet.

Harish Gupta can be reached at harishgupta45@hotmail.com