Finance Minister P Chidambaram refused to comment on allegations levelled by former Additional Solicitor General Bishwajit Bhattacharya in a book that the government had expected him to lose the cases he presented in courts.
"Well, I dont know. I was not the Finance Minister during that period except for the last couple of months ... I cannot speak for the period Bishwajit was the ASG," Chidambaram told reporters when asked about the former law officer's charges.
He said that during his earlier tenure as Finance Minister he had asked for one Additional Solicitor General each to represent the ministry in court cases pertaining to direct taxes and indirect taxes.
However, the minister said better results could be expected from the government's law officers, particularly in cases pertaining to the Finance Ministry as some changes have been effected.
"The Law Minister and the Attorney General have named two ASGs for direct taxes and indirect taxes. We have a panel of five lawyers in Panel A and four lawyers in Panel B to assist them," Chidambaram said.
He said another panel of drafting lawyers has also been put in place with whom he has already had a meeting.
"We have now laid down certain standard procedures. I think all this will come together and when the court opens on Monday, I sincerely hope that the defence of government cases or presentation of government cases will be more effective and therefore we can expect better results," Chidambaram said.