New Delhi, May 11
Law Minister Kapil Sibal today hinted at the possibility of drafting norms and guidelines for government-CBI interface in the wake of the ongoing coalgate controversy wherein the Supreme Court has taken a strong view of government interference with the probe.

Apex court’s castigation of former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar for changing the heart of the CBI report led to his unceremonious exit last evening after he was sacked by the government at the insistence of the Congress.

Any norms for such interface will, however, need to undergo a serious consultative process within the government and with other stakeholders considering the fact that all investigative agencies owe some accountability to someone, Sibal said, adding that sometimes interface is necessitated to allow investigative agencies to access information which only the government has.

The Law Minister, however, said norms for interface could be debated in reference to situations wherein such interface was required.

Refusing to comment on the future of Attorney General GE Vahanvati who is in the eye of a storm over coalgate, Sibal, given additional charge of law today, said he had not applied his mind to the matter and would address the coalgate controversy and its implications for the government by Monday when he officially takes charge of the Law Ministry.

“There are challenges and we will deal with them. I will address the issue and my priorities in the Law Ministry on Monday,” said the minister who is often brought in for damage control by the government.

He was earlier given additional charge of Telecom Ministry when the 2G spectrum row was hot. Soon after, he became a full-fledged Telecom Minister, losing his HRD portfolio.

In Law Ministry, Sibal has his task cut out — he must ensure a strong defence of the government in the ongoing Coalgate controversy.