What about the issue of corruption in the judiciary?

This is another issue that has engaged the attention of the Prime Minister since he has told me he is pained every time he reads about a corruption issue involving members of the judiciary. I am not denying that there is corruption in the judiciary but it is often over-blown by the media and a year- or two-year-old news is reported as fresh news.

As the Government’s senior-most law officer, how would you like to redefine the role of the Attorney General?

I have been a Government law officer for a decade now and am very clear that instead of a confrontationist attitude, the equation between the executive and the judiciary should be one of cooperation. Fortunately, in the last couple of years, the tone of confrontation has been toned down and I want that to be toned down further. There should be a constructive engagement of the judiciary with the executive instead of a confrontationist engagement. This, I am sure, will be a phase for the evolution of the judiciary.

Any ideas on how the over-dependence of agencies, such as the CBI, on senior law officers can be reduced?

I feel very strongly about reforms needed on the functioning of the Central agency. For one, there has to be a hallmark of specialisation even among Government lawyers in the Central agency panel in areas such as taxation, arbitration, constitutional law and so on. Not everyone can do everything. We also want to introduce a litigation planner in the Supreme Court for the Central agency so that lawyers can prepare and be fully briefed for important hearings months in advance. The Central agency will also have a fully computerised system with search engines. The planner will list all hearings for the next six months and the Supreme Court’s registry has promised full assistance for this.

... contd.