The government also pleaded for some more time to sort out the differences between Bhatnagar and Lalli.

'The Government should be given a chance to sort out the problem. Give me a fortnight,' Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium said.

He said attempts to resolve the issue through 'bilateral and mutual negotiations' between the chairman and the CEO may not work.

The court, however, was not convinced with his arguments and said: 'It's strange that there is no internal audit.'