As new govt takes charge, Attorney General & Solicitor General quit

New Delhi, May 28: The country's two top law officers Attorney General (AG) Goolam Essaji Vahanvati and Solicitor General (SG) Mohan Parasaran have tendered their resignations following the change in the government at the Centre.

Since the tenure of law officers is co-terminus with that of the government, they tendered their resignations according to convention.

Sources in the government said by the time their resignation papers are processed, the government would appoint a new set of law officers.

The law officers -- the AG, the SG and Additional Solicitors Generals -- represent the government in various courts and tender legal advice on complex issues.

Though no decision has been taken by the government to fill the vacancies, speculation is rife that senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohtagi are the frontrunners for the post of Attorney General.

Ranjit Kumar is speculated to be the frontrunner for the post of Solicitor General.

Vahanvati was appointed AG in June 2009 after UPA came back to power. He was the Solicitor General for five years during UPA-1.

In May, 2012 Mr Vahanvati was again appointed as AG till 2014 just before his three-year assignment as the top law officer of the country was coming to an end.

He was the first Muslim to become the top law officer of the country.

In February last year, Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran was elevated as the Solicitor General following the resignation of senior advocate Rohinton Nariman from the post.

Mr Parasaran, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court and son of former Attorney General K Parasaran, was appointed as ASG by the first UPA government in July 2004.

PTI