The newly formed Government today officially zeroed on Mukul Rohatgi as the 14th Attorney General of India. Mr. Rohatgi will hold the post of the top law officer of the country for three years. The appointment maneuvered its way past oppositions from Ram Jethmalani, who had written a strongly worded letter to the PM last week, expressing his resentment against Mukul Rohatgi’s appointment. This had been termed as a reason for staying Rohatgi’s appointment to the post, with Modi seeking explanations on the matter. Rohatgi, will take over from GE Vahanvati, who had resigned after the change in the Government.
Former AG Ashok Desai and senior advocate Anil Diwan are also in the running for the post. The name of Harish Salve, who was the solicitor general in the previous NDA regime, is also being considered. However, the appointment of Rohatgi is official now.
Four years ago, Rohatgi had featured along with legal eagles like Ram Jethmalani, Soli J Sorabjee, Fali S Nariman, K Parasaran, Harish Salve, A M Singhvi, Ashok Desai, K K Venugopal and R F Nariman in a list of top ten lawyers of the Supreme Court.
He was Additional Solicitor General during the previous NDA government at the Centre and is considered to be very close to Arun Jaitely. Rohatgi has defended India’s almost all politicians and industrial houses in the Country. While Salve was defending Mukesh Ambani, it was Rohatgi and Jethmalani who were leading the Anil Ambani camp in the dispute between Ambani brothers. Rohatgi is regarded as a ‘Master of Admission matters’ in Supreme Court.
Rohatgi told HT, "I will see that the superior courts are not flooded with frivolous and petty litigations," adding he would put in all efforts to avoid inter-ministerial litigations.
As the Attorney General of India, Rohatgi can now be the only non-member of Parliament who can go there to extend his opinion when it is sought. AG also advises government on the legal issues in fulfillment of his legal and constitutional obligations.