Although, the Congress has blamed the Government’s inability to finalise the names of judges for the U-turn on the snoopgate commission, top Government sources said the law Ministry had suggested the names of two judges in the last couple of months to the PMO and the Congress high command was aware of it.
“However, while there was no consensus on the names between the Government and the party, there was also apprehension about the after-effects of the move,” the sources said.
The Ministry had proposed names of two retired High Court judges one in the month of January and again in early March “but the party and the Government did not coordinate on the matter leading to inordinate delay”.
“The probe could have almost started without any glitches. The names of the judges forwarded had an impeccable record and would have brought the matter to a certain conclusion,” the sources pointed out.
Congress leaders, however, have been trying to make the Government the scapegoat. They have been suggesting that the plan was shelved as the Government could not finalise the name of a judge to probe ‘snoopgate’. They also attributed it to the Government’s reluctance in annoying the allies who had opposed the move besides giving out the impression of a political vendetta.
law Minister and Congress leader Kapil Sibal gave an indication of the Government and party’s mindset on the issue saying, “I had talked to the Home Minister in morning. Nobody should feel that they are carrying out a political vendetta. If there has been a delay and then somebody feels that there is some vendetta, we do not want any such charge of vendetta against us. The allies have their own views. That is why we did not move ahead. let the next Government carry it out.”