Attorney General of India

Attorney General for India is the Indian government’s chief legal advisor, and its primary lawyer in the Supreme Court of India.

He is appointed by the President of India under Article 76(1) of the Constitution and holds office during the pleasure of the President.

He is part of Union Executive.

He must be a person qualified to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court or an eminent jurist, in the opinion of the President and must be a citizen of India.

Attorney General is the first law officer of the government of India and acts as top advocate for Union Government.

He is responsible for giving advice to President/ Union Government upon such legal matters and to perform such other duties of legal character which are assigned to him by the President.

He has right of audience in all courts within the territory of India.

He has also the right to speak and take part in proceedings of both the houses of parliament including joint sittings.

But cannot vote in parliament.

Further, he can also be made a member of any parliamentary committee but in the committee also, he has no power to vote.

He has all the powers and privileges that of a member of parliament.

Attorney General of India is not a full time Government servant.

He is an advocate of the government and is allowed to take up private practice, provided the other party is not the state.

Further, without permission of the government he cannot defend the accused persons in criminal matters.