The Government today persuaded Attorney General Soli Sorabjee to continue in office beyond October 31, when his three-year term was due to expire.Sources say Sorabjee has agreed to carry on ‘‘till further orders’’ because of an unforeseen problem coming in the way of the Government’s original plan of having Solicitor General Harish Salve succeed him.Salve informed the Government yesterday that he needed a ‘‘break’’ from official work because of the ill-health of his wife, who is undergoing treatment for some complications she developed after a surgery earlier this year.As a result, for somebody who was said to have been all set to be elevated to the post of Attorney General, Salve is being relieved of his post of Solicitor General as his term is also due to lapse shortly.The break Salve sought is expected to stretch to three-four months depending on how soon his wife recovers. Given the dynamism he displayed in his work and the rapport he struck with the Government and the Supreme Court, sources say Salve is still in the reckoning for the Attorney General’s post.Salve, when contacted by The Indian Express, said: ‘‘If my wife recovers in the next few months and if the Government still needs a new Attorney General then, I will be happy to accept the job. I have very good relations with the Government.’’ He said he opted to return to ‘‘a low profile private practice’’ because that will let him again be ‘‘the master’’ of his time. ‘‘I will be able to spend more time with my wife and take her out of town whenever she needs a change,’’ he added.The Government for the present requested Sorabjee to remain in office to avoid a situation where both the top law officers of the country are new. Sorabjee had also told the Government in writing that he did not want an extension.
