Solicitor General of India

Solicitor General of India
Incumbent
Tushar Mehta
since 11 October 2018
AbbreviationSGI
Reports toAttorney General for India
AppointerACC
Term length3 years (per discretion of ACC)
Formation28 January 1950
First holderC. K. Daphtary
DeputyAddl. Solicitor Generals

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.

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]

  1. ^ "Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Extra Ordinary Gazette Notification for appointment" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Tushar Mehta is new SG". The Hindu. 11 October 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 November 2018.