Will appoint Advocate General by year-end: State to HC
The HC, on the last date of hearing, had directed the government to inform the court about its stand on the appointment of an AG.
Mumbai: In reply to a PIL seeking direction to the state to appoint a regular Advocate General (AG) in place of the current “acting AG”, the government of Maharashtra through an affidavit recently assured the Bombay high court that it would appoint an AG for the state by the end of December.
The high court, on the last date of hearing, had directed the government to inform the court about its stand on the appointment of an AG. Following this direction, Neeraj Dhote, legal advisor-cum-joint secretary, law and judiciary department, filed an affidavit dated December 8 and stated that the direction of the court was brought to the notice of the competent authority.
The affidavit further said that “the Maharashtra State Legislature is in session at Nagpur” and hence, as per directions, it is assured to the court that “the state would appoint the AG for the state of Maharashtra in accordance with the provisions contained in Article 165 of the Constitution of India, by the end of December 2016.”
The court had issued this direction while hearing a PIL filed by Congress Member of Legislative Council Sanjay Dutt.