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Question

Which one of the following statements about the Solicitor General of India (SGI) is not correct?

The correct answer is

The post of the SGI is a constitutional post.  

Let's analyze the statements provided about the Solicitor General of India (SGI) to identify which one is incorrect. The Solicitor General of India is a crucial law officer in the Indian government, assisting the chief legal advisor, the Attorney General of India.

Understanding the Role of Law Officers in India

The Indian Constitution provides for the office of the Attorney General of India (AG) under Article 76. The AG is the highest law officer in the country and the chief legal advisor to the Government of India. The post of Attorney General is a constitutional post.

Assisting the Attorney General are other law officers, including the Solicitor General of India (SGI) and Additional Solicitor Generals (ASGs). These posts are not created by the Constitution but are established by executive decisions. They act as the government's legal representatives and perform duties assigned by the AG or the government.

Analyzing the Statements about the Solicitor General of India

Let's examine each statement regarding the Solicitor General of India:

  • Statement 1: The SGI is not the Government's chief legal advisor.

    The chief legal advisor to the Government of India is the Attorney General (AG). The Solicitor General assists the AG but is not the primary chief legal advisor. This statement is correct about the Solicitor General.

  • Statement 2: The SGI is the secondary law officer of the country.

    The hierarchy of law officers places the Attorney General as the foremost law officer. The Solicitor General is the next highest-ranking law officer after the Attorney General. Therefore, the SGI is indeed the secondary law officer. This statement is correct about the Solicitor General.

  • Statement 3: The post of the SGI is a constitutional post.

    As discussed earlier, the Constitution of India mentions only the Attorney General (Article 76) as a constitutional post. The posts of the Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor Generals are statutory or executive posts, not constitutional ones. This statement is incorrect about the Solicitor General.

  • Statement 4: The SGI is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

    Appointments to senior positions in the Government of India, including those of law officers like the Solicitor General, are typically made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). This is the standard procedure for such appointments. This statement is correct about the Solicitor General's appointment process.

The question asks for the statement that is not correct about the Solicitor General of India.

Based on the analysis, the statement "The post of the SGI is a constitutional post" is incorrect.

Conclusion

The statement that is not correct regarding the Solicitor General of India (SGI) is that the post of the SGI is a constitutional post. The post of Attorney General is constitutional, while the Solicitor General's post is established by executive order.

Feature Attorney General (AG) Solicitor General (SGI)
Constitutional Post Yes (Article 76) No
Position Chief Legal Advisor, Primary Law Officer Secondary Law Officer, assists AG
Mentioned in Constitution Yes No
Appointment President Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (Executive)

Revision Table: Solicitor General of India Facts

Statement Correct/Incorrect About SGI
SGI is not the Government's chief legal advisor. Correct
SGI is the secondary law officer of the country. Correct
The post of the SGI is a constitutional post. Incorrect
The SGI is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Correct

Additional Information on Law Officers of India

Apart from the Attorney General, Solicitor General, and Additional Solicitor Generals, there are other legal officers representing the government in various courts. The ranking helps in defining their seniority and responsibilities. The law officers are crucial for representing the Union Government in the Supreme Court and High Courts and providing legal advice on important matters.

The roles and responsibilities of the Solicitor General are primarily defined by the Rules of Business of the Government of India and notifications issued from time to time. They assist the Attorney General in discharging his duties and also perform duties specifically assigned to them.

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  2. In which of the following years was the Planning Commission of India set up?

  3. Who is the Ex-officio Chairman of NITI Aayog?

  4. Which autonomous body was operationalised under the Ministry of Surface Transport in 1995?

  5. Which of the following is a non-constitutional body of India?

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