Date:05/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/05/stories/2008080558110100.htm

Front Page

Two government advocates removed

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Monday ordered the removal of two government advocates in New Delhi, who had failed to file a counter in the Sethusamudram bandh contempt case in the Supreme Court.

The Chief Minister, on enquiring into the issue, found that “the present situation has been created because the Tamil Nadu government advocates in New Delhi did not take action in this case at the appropriate time.” The issue was also not brought to the Chief Minister’s notice within the time specified.

The Chief Minister, in a statement, said the DMK had always held the courts in high esteem and respected their pronouncements. In this situation, since the advocates appointed by the government in New Delhi – V.G. Pragasam and D. Harishkumar – did not bring the case to his notice early enough, he was asking them to accept moral responsibility for the episode. The government insisted that they tender their resignations from their posts, he said.