Attorney General of India, List, Tenure, Functions, Limitations

Attorney General of India is the highest legal officer of the country, appointed by the President and serving at the President’s pleasure. To be eligible for this post, a person must be qualified to become a judge of the Supreme Court. The Attorney General advises the Union Government on legal matters and represents it in the Supreme Court and other courts when required. As of 2025, R. Venkataramani is serving as the Attorney General of India. He assumed office on October 1, 2022, succeeding K. K. Venugopal, and his tenure is set to continue till September 2025.

Attorney General of India

Attorney General of India List

Present Attorney General of India

Attorney General of India Eligibility

• The appointment of India's Attorney General is governed by Article 76(1) of the Constitution.
• Eligibility requires qualifications for a Supreme Court Judge.
• The President appoints the Attorney General at their discretion (Article 76(4)).
• The Attorney General serves at the President's pleasure and receives remuneration determined by the President.
• Notable past Attorneys General include M C Setalvad, C K Daphtary, and Soli Sorabjee.
• Soli Sorabjee served twice, from 1989 to 1990 and from 1998 to 2004.
• Milon K Banerji also served twice, from 1992 to 1996 and from 2004 to 2009.
• These jurists made significant contributions to India's legal system, upholding principles of justice and law.

Attorney General of India Tenure

• The President of India appoints the Attorney General, who must meet specific eligibility criteria.
• Eligibility includes being an Indian citizen with either 10 years of experience as a high court advocate or 5 years as a state judge, or recognition as a prominent jurist.
• The Constitution does not set a fixed term for the Attorney General's appointment.
• There are no specified grounds or procedures for the removal of the Attorney General; they serve at the President's pleasure and can resign voluntarily.
• The President determines the Attorney General's remuneration without constitutional limitations, providing flexibility in setting their salary.

Attorney General of India Term of Office

• The President picks the Attorney General (AG), who must meet specific qualifications like being an Indian citizen and having legal experience.
• The AG doesn't have a set term; they serve at the President's discretion and can be removed by the President anytime.
• There are no set rules for how the AG can be removed.
• The President decides how much the AG gets paid; there's no fixed salary mentioned in the constitution.

Attorney General of India Duties and Functions

1. Providing Legal Advice: The AG offers legal advice to the Government of India on matters referred to him by the President.
2. Performing Assigned Legal Tasks: He handles other legal duties assigned to him by the President.
3. Enforcing Legal Functions: The AG carries out functions given to him by the Constitution or other laws.

1. Representation in Supreme Court: The AG represents the Government of India in all Supreme Court cases involving the government.
2. Participation in Presidential References: He represents the government in any Supreme Court reference initiated by the President under Article 143 of the Constitution.
3. Representation in High Court Cases: The AG represents the government in high court cases if required by the government.

Attorney General of India Rights

1. Right to Audience: He can appear in all courts across India while performing his duties.
2. Right to Speak in Parliament: The AG can speak in both houses of Parliament and their joint sessions but cannot vote.
3. Participation in Parliamentary Committees: He can also take part in parliamentary committee meetings where he's named as a member, again without voting rights.
4. Privileges and Immunities: The AG enjoys the same privileges and immunities as a member of parliament.

Attorney General of India Limitations

1. Cannot Advise Against the Government: He shouldn't advise or take a brief against the Government of India.
2. Restrictions on Criminal Defense: Without government permission, he shouldn't defend accused persons in criminal cases.
3. Limits on Corporate Appointments: He shouldn't accept directorship in any company without government permission.