Solicitor General of India
Topic: Constitutional Bodies: UPSC, CAG, Finance Commission and Others · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Solicitor General of India is the Union government's second-highest law officer, after the Attorney General. It is a non-constitutional post, which means no article of the Constitution creates it. Its duties come from the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules 1987. The Solicitor General helps the Attorney General in the government's legal work and is in turn helped by Additional Solicitors General.
Example
When the Union government has an important case in the Supreme Court, the Solicitor General often argues it for the government. Tushar Mehta has held this post.
Don't confuse with
- Attorney General of India: a constitutional post under Art. 76. The Attorney General can speak in either House of Parliament and its committees without voting (Art. 88). The Solicitor General has no right to speak in Parliament, which is a common Prelims trap.
- Advocate General: the top law officer of a state under Art. 165. The Governor appoints this officer, who can speak in the state legislature (Art. 177).