What is the role of the Attorney General of India?

Concept

The Attorney General of India is the highest law officer of the country, appointed by the President under Article 76 of the Constitution. The office is defined as the chief legal adviser to the Government of India: the holder advises the Union Government on legal matters referred to them and performs other legal duties assigned by the President.

Application

Because the office is constitutionally framed as the Government's chief legal counsel, its core role is to provide legal advice to the Government of India. The Attorney General also has the right of audience in all courts in India and may take part in the proceedings of Parliament (without a vote), but the defining function tied to the office under Article 76 is advising the Union Government on the law.

Contrast

• Overseeing the functioning of the Supreme Court and the High Courts is not the job of any single law officer; the courts are independent and administer themselves under the Chief Justice — the Attorney General appears before them as counsel, not as a supervisor.

• Providing free legal services to citizens who cannot afford fees is the mandate of the Legal Services Authorities (such as NALSA), set up under Article 39A and the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

• Reviewing the income and expenditure of the Government of India is the constitutional duty of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) under Articles 148-151, who audits the accounts of the Union and the States.