Tell Govt to Help Students to Cross Over to Moldova: CJI to AG

• The Supreme Court asked attorney general KK Venugopal to persuade the Centre to help evacuate Indian students stranded at Ukraine's border with Moldova.
• The SC asked the AG to appear personally and see if he could help the students.

About Attorney General of India

• India's Attorney General (AG) is a member of the Union Executive. The Attorney General is the country's highest law officer.
• The office of Attorney General of India is established under Article 76 of the Constitution.
• Solicitor General of India and Additional Solicitor General of India assist the AG in fulfillment of the official responsibilities.
• Corresponding Office in the States: Advocate General (Article 165).

Appointment, Eligibility and Removal

• On the suggestion of the government, the President appoints the AG.
• S/he must be a citizen of India and must have served as a judge of a high court for five years or as an attorney of a high court for ten years, or as an eminent jurist, in the opinion of the President.
• The Constitution does not specify the term of the office.
• The Constitution does not specify the procedures or circumstances for the dismissal of the AG. He/she serves at the pleasure of the President (may be removed by the President at any time).

Duties and Functions

• To provide legal advice to the Government of India (GoI) on subjects assigned to her or him by the President.
• To carry out any additional legal responsibilities entrusted to her/him by the President.
• To represent the Government of India in all Supreme Court and High Court in all the cases involving the Government of India.
• To represent the Government of India in any Supreme Court referral made by the President under Article 143 of the Constitution (Power of the President to Consult the Supreme Court).
• To carry out the duties entrusted to her or him by the Constitution or any other legislation.

Rights and limitations

• S/he has the right to speak and participate in the proceedings of both Houses of Parliament or their joint sitting, as well as any Parliamentary committee of which s/he may be designated a member, but not to vote.
• He or she has all of the privileges and immunities that a member of Parliament has.
• He does not belong in the category of government employees. He is not forbidden from practising law in private.