Gopal Subramanium Withdraws Candidature

Mr Gopal Subramanium today withdrew his candidature for appointment as a Supreme Court Judge. This comes after the Ministry of Law and Justice rejected his name from a list of four names recommended for appointment as Supreme Court Judges. In a letter to the Chief Justice of India, Mr Subramanium described the Law Ministry’s move as a “dirt digging exercise with a clear mandate to describe me as unsuitable”. He further stated that he was being targeted for “displaying integrity and independence”. He also expressed his disappointment as the Supreme Court “did not stand by him”. As per settled law, even after a name is rejected once, the Law Ministry shall have to clear it if the collegium reiterates its recommendation.  

Mr Subramanium, a Senior Advocate, along with three others, Senior Advocate, Mr Rohinton F. Nariman, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Justice Arun Mishra and the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, Justice A.K Goel had been recommended for appointment as Judges of the Supreme Court of India. While the Law Ministry cleared the names of the other three persons, Mr Subramanium’s name was rejected after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that he met with the lawyers representing the former Telecom Minister A. Raja in the 2G case. It was also alleged that he had links with the corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.  Mr Subramanium has denied these allegations in his letter.

Mr Subramanium has also served as the Solicitor General of India but resigned in 2011 over differences with the previous government.