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UPSC Prelims 2022

Attorney General and Solicitor General of India - UPSC Prelims 2022 Question

Prelims General Studies Paper - 1

May 14, 2023

2 min read

Question

 

Consider the following statements:

 

1. Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India are the only officers of the Government who are allowed to participate in the meetings of the Parliament of India.
2. According to the Constitution of India, the Attorney General of India submits his resignation when the Government which appointed him resigns.

 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

 

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

 

Answer

 

The correct answer is D. Neither 1 nor 2

 

The Attorney General of India has the privilege of presenting arguments in all courts within the territorial jurisdiction of India while performing his official duties. Additionally, as stated in Article 88, the Attorney General is entitled to speak and participate in the proceedings of both Houses of Parliament, as well as any parliamentary committee where he may be appointed as a member. However, he does not possess the right to vote in these proceedings. On the other hand, the Solicitor General does not have a similar right to participate in parliamentary meetings.

 

The Attorney General serves in his position at the pleasure of the President, which means he can be removed from office by the President at any time. Similarly, he also has the option to resign by submitting his resignation to the President. It is customary for the Attorney General to resign when the government (council of ministers) resigns or is replaced, as his appointment is based on their advice. This practice is a convention followed in accordance with the functioning of the government, and it is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution of India.

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