Last month, the Environment Ministry stripped him of his services after his stand-off in the Supreme Court with judges where he questioned the jurisdiction of their orders. Last week, Additional Solicitor General Vikas Singh did the same with the bench on the sealing issue and has provoked the ire of the Law Ministry.

Law Minister H R Bharadwaj not only asked him for a written explanation, today he instructed Singh to call on the judge on Sunday and “express his regrets.”

Singh had argued that the court could not decide on unauthorised colonies. When the bench asked him “don’t raise your voice,” Singh replied: “I am ready to face contempt.”

In his explanation, Singh said: “It was most inappropriate for the court to pass the order without even properly hearing the Union of India...Justice Pasayat was extremely unpleasant and he did not permit me to argue any further and he insisted to maintain the order which had already been dictated by him.”

This didn’t impress the Ministry. Law Secretary T K Vishwanathan said on file: “It is very urgent to undertake some damage control exercise to ensure that the Government means to disrespect to the Supreme Court.”

This morning, on seeing the ASG’s explanation, the Law Minister wrote: “I have asked ASG to seek an appointment with the learned Judge and express regrets. Perhaps the Judge has agreed to meet him on Sunday. Put up the file to me again after this.”