• Government appoints six senior advocates as ASGs in the Supreme Court.
• Appointees include S. Dwarakanath, Archana Pathak Dave, Satya Darshi Sanjay, Brijender Chahar, Raghavendra P Shankar and Rajkumar Bhaskar Thakare.
• ASGs assist the Attorney General and Solicitor General in representing the government in courts.
• Term of three years, effective from September 9, 2024.

Solicitor General of India (SGI) – Key Points

• • Position: Second highest law officer in India, after the Attorney General.
  • Role: Assists Attorney General; advises Union Government; represents the government in Supreme Court and High Courts.
  • Nature of Post: Statutory, not constitutional (not mentioned in the Constitution).
• Headquarters of SGI

• • • SGI Headquarters: New Delhi.
    • Additional Solicitors General (ASG) Headquarters: New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, or Allahabad (as specified by the Government).
• Appointment of SGI

• • Appointment: By Appointments Committee 

• Term of SGI
  • • Term: 3 years; eligible for re-appointment for a further term not exceeding 3 years.
• Duties of SGI

• • • Legal Advice: Provides advice to the Government of India on legal matters.
    • Court Representation: Appears on behalf of the Government in the Supreme Court and High Courts.
    • Special Functions: Represents Government in President’s references to the Supreme Court (Article 143).
• Limitations of SGI

• • No private briefs: Cannot hold briefs for any party except specified government institutions.
  • No advising against the government: Cannot advise against the Government of India or Public Sector Undertakings.
  • No criminal defense: Cannot defend accused in criminal cases without government permission.
  • No external appointments: Cannot accept other appointments without government permission.
  • Advice via Ministry: Can advise only through the Ministry of Law and Justice.