Raja solely responsible for 2G scam - Justice Ganguly

Former Supreme Court judge Ashok Kumar Ganguly says that former Telecom Minsiter A Raja acted unilaterally in the 2G spectrum mess and that his Cabinet colleagues are not to be blamed. Speaking to Karan Thapar on Devil's Advocate, Justice Ganguly said, "It is not correct to apply the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility in the case relating to the distribution of 2G licences on a first-come-first-serve basis."

Here is an excerpt of the interview:

Karan Thapar: It appears that you have pinned the blame entirely on Mr Raja but you haven't paid sufficient heed to the principle of the collective Cabinet responsibility. Surely such a momentous decision requires that the Cabinet also accept the responsibility?

Ashok Kumar Ganguly: I think from the judgment, if you look at the judgment facts properly, you find that the minister concerns didn't pay heed to the request made by the another minister, including the request made by the law minister to put the matter before the empowered committee.

Karan Thapar: As a result of which collective Cabinet responsibility, you are saying, doesn't apply?

Ashok Kumar Ganguly: In a way yes. Because that is the why we find that there is no proper policy.

Karan Thapar: What about the fact that in the three areas that Mr Raja has found to acted have wrongly, pricing, advancing the cut off date, determining the first-come-first-served in terms of letter of intent rather than in terms of date of application. He either informed the Prime Minister or the Prime Minister overlooked it or ignored it or the Prime Minister gave him advice which Mr Raja overlooked and Prime Minister didn't look. Doesn't that point the figure all the way to the PM?

Ashok Kumar Ganguly: You are again asking me on the nitty gritties of the judgment. I don't want to go again through that in the interview.

Karan Thapar: But you are absolutely convinced that the this instance the principle collective Cabinet responsibility does not apply?

Ashok Kumar Ganguly: Possibly that is not follwed.

Karan Thapar: It doesn't apply?

Ashok Kumar Ganguly: It was not applied to this particular case.

Karan Thapar: It wasn't followed? Raja acted unilaterally which is why his colleagues in Cabinet possibly don't share any blame?

Ashok Kumar Ganguly: Possibly yes.