Rajendra Prasad Gupta Appointed as New Advocate General of Rajasthan

Senior advocate Rajendra Prasad Gupta has been appointed as the new Advocate General of Rajasthan. Governor Kalraj Mishra has approved the proposal for appointment of Prasad.

• After the change of government in December, the post of Advocate General was vacant for about two months. Prasad replaced MS Singhvi as the state's advocate general.

About Rajendra Prasad Gupta

• Rajendra Prasad was born on 4 June 1962 in village Reed of Parbatsar tehsil of Nagaur district.
• He received his school education in his village itself
• He graduated in Commerce in 1981 and did LLB from Rajasthan University in 1985
• And as a lawyer enrolled in BCR in 1985
• He also received the degree of Chartered Accountant in 1986
• He will be the 19th Advocate General of the state from the hierarchy

About Advocate General of Rajasthan

• The Office of the Advocate General of Rajasthan came into existence upon the formation of the State of Rajasthan as per the States Reorganization Act 1956 when the Rajasthan High Court was established.
• On the formation of the new Rajasthan state, Late Shri G.C. Kasliwal became the first Advocate General of Rajasthan state.
• The AG's office presents all cases in which the Government of Rajasthan is a party to the Rajasthan High Court with its principal seat at Jodhpur and division bench at Jaipur.

Role and Function

• The Advocate General of a State is a constitutional post and authority duly appointed in accordance with Article 165 of the Constitution of India.
• The powers and functions of the Advocate General are also specified in the Constitution of India under Articles 165 and 177.

Article 165: Advocate General for the State

• The Governor of each State shall appoint an Advocate General of the State, a person who is qualified to be appointed as a Judge of a High Court.
• It shall be the duty of the Advocate General to advise the Government of the State concerned with such legal matters and to perform such other duties of a legal character; As may from time to time be specified or assigned to him by the Governor and to discharge the functions conferred on him by or under this Constitution or any other law in force.
• The Advocate General shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor and shall receive such remuneration as may be fixed by the Governor.

Article 177: Legislative Assembly Proceedings 

• Every Minister and Advocate General of a State shall have the right to speak or otherwise take part in the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of the State or, if there is a Legislative Council in the State; to speak in both Houses.
• He can otherwise take part in the proceedings of any committee of the Legislature, of which he may be a member.
• By virtue of this Article,  he is not entitled to vote.