Solicitor General of India

The Solicitor General of India (SGI) is subordinate to the Attorney General for India. The SGI is the second-highest law officer of the country, assists the Attorney General, and is assisted by Additional Solicitors General of India (Addl. SGIs). The SGI and the Addl. SGIs advise the Government and appear on behalf of the Union of India in terms of the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1972.^[1] However, unlike the post of Attorney General for India, which is a Constitutional post under Article 76 of the Constitution of India, the posts of the Solicitor General and the Additional Solicitors General are merely statutory.

Solicitor General of India

SGI

Attorney General for India

ACC

3 years (per discretion of ACC)

28 January 1950

C. K. Daphtary

Addl. Solicitor Generals

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) recommends the appointment and officially appoints the Solicitor General.^[2] The proposal for appointment of Solicitor General, Additional Solicitor General is generally moved at the level of Joint secretary (or Law Secretary) in the Department of Legal Affairs and after obtaining the approval of the Minister of Law & Justice, the proposal goes to the ACC and then to the president.

Currently, the Solicitor General of India is Tushar Mehta.^[3]

to give advice to the Government of India upon such legal matters, and to perform such other duties of a legal character, as may from time to time, be referred or assigned to him by the Government of India.

to appear, whenever required, in the Supreme Court or in any High Court on behalf of the Government of India in cases (including suits, writ petitions, appeal and other proceedings) in which the Government of India is concerned as a party or is otherwise interested;

to represent the Government of India in any reference made by the President to the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Constitution; and

to discharge such other functions as are conferred on a Law Officer by or under the Constitution or any other Law for the time being in force.

The Solicitor General works under the Attorney General of India. The duties of the Solicitor General are laid out in Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987:^[4]

hold briefs in any court for any party, except the Government of India or the government of a State or any University, Government School or College, local authority, Public Service Commission, Port Trust, Port Commissioners, Government aided or Government managed hospitals, a Government company, any Corporation owned or controlled by the State, any body or institution in which the Government has a preponderating interest;

advice any party against the Government of India or a , or in cases in which he is likely to be called upon to advise, or appear for, the Government of India or a Public Sector Undertaking;

Public Sector Undertaking

defend an accused person in a criminal prosecution, without the permission of the Government of India; or

accept appointment to any office in any company or corporation without the permission of the Government of India;

advise any Ministry or Department of Government of India or any statutory organisation or any Public Sector Undertaking unless the proposal or a reference in this regard is received through the , Department of Legal Affairs.^[4]

Ministry of Law and Justice

As law officers representing the Government of India, SGIs are bound by certain restrictions concerning private practice. A law officer is not allowed to:

Solicitor General of India