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

Union of India Union of India or Indian Union may refer to: * The country of India * Dominion of India (1947–1950), which was also known as the Union of India * The Government of India, which "may sue or be sued by the name" of ''Union of India'', as per Articl ...

and appear on its behalf in terms of the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987. Unlike the post of Attorney General for India, which is a Constitutional post under Article 76 of the

Indian Constitution The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India, and the longest written national constitution in the world. The document lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and ...

, the posts of the Solicitor General and the Additional Solicitor General are neither Constitutional nor statutory. The conditions of service of Law Officers are defined by ''The Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987'', made under the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the

. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) recommends the appointment and officially appoints the Solicitor General. 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 Tushar Mehta is a senior counsel in India and is currently serving as the Solicitor General of India. He is the second-longest serving solicitor general of India after C. K. Daphtary. He is well known for his biased stance, openly abusing people ...

Duties

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: *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.

Restrictions of private practice

As law officers representing the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...

, SGIs are bound by certain restrictions concerning private practice. A law officer is not allowed to: *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

Public Sector Undertaking Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) in India are State-owned enterprise, government-owned entities in which at least 51% of stake is under the ownership of the Government of India or State governments of India, state governments. These types of f ...

, 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; *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 Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Legal Affairs.

Fee and allowances payable

Fee and allowances payable to the law officers (including

Attorney General of India The Attorney General for India is the chief legal advisor of the Government of India. The Attorney General is appointed by the President of India at the instance of the Union Cabinet under Article 76(1) of the Constitution and hold office du ...

, Solicitor General of India and the Additional Solicitors General) of the

are as under: In addition to the above fee payable for cases, a retainer fee is paid to the Solicitor General and the Addl. Solicitors General at the rate of Rs. 40,000, and Rs. 30,000 per month, respectively.

List of incumbent Law Officers

The list of incumbent Law Officers (i.e. AGI, SGI, Addl. SGIs) as of 10 September 2024 are as follows:

List of Solicitors General of India

The Solicitors General of India since independence are listed below:

Notes

: 1.Later appointed as the Attorney-General for India. : 2.Later appointed as a judge in the Supreme Court of India.

References

External links

Official website of Supreme Court of India
{{Judiciary of India Indian lawyers Supreme Court of India