Which of the following is/are true regarding Attorney General of India?

1) Article 76 deals with Attorney General of India.

2) Post of Solicitor General is not created by the Constitution.

a. Only 1

b. Only 2

c. Both 1 and 2

d. Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

Article 76 provides for the office of the Attorney General for India who is the highest law officer in the country.

Appointment and Term of the Attorney General -

The Attorney General (AG) is appointed by the President.

He must be a person who is qualified to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court.

That means, he must be a citizen of India and he must have been a judge of some High Court for five years or an advocate of some High Court for ten years or an eminent jurist, in the opinion of the President.

The term of office of the AG is not fixed by the Constitution.

Also, the Constitution does not contain the procedure and grounds for his removal.

He holds office during the pleasure of the President.

Thus, he may be removed by the President at any time.

He may also quit his office by submitting his resignation to the President.

Conventionally, he resigns when the government (Council of Ministers) resigns or is replaced.

This is because he is appointed on the government’s advice.

The remuneration of the AG is not fixed by the constitution and receives such remuneration as the President may decide.

Solicitor General of India -

Apart from AG, there are other law officers of the Government of India.

They are the solicitor general of India and additional solicitor general of India.

They assist the AG in the fulfilment of his official responsibilities.

Only the office of the AG is created by the constitution.

Article 76 does not mention about the solicitor general and additional solicitor general.

The AG is not a member of the central cabinet.

There is a separate law minister in the central cabinet to look after legal matters at the government level.