July 1,2017:

K K Venugopal, was an Additional Solicitor General in 1977, returns as the law officer after four decades.

K K Venugopal, Senior Advocate and Constitutional Expert was appointed 15th Attorney General for India on Friday.

The 86-year old will bring a wealth of experience and legal gravitas to defend Centre’s policies in the Constitutional Courts.

K K Venugopal’s name was cleared by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately after he returned from US and proposal received the President Pranab Mukherjee’s assent.

Mr. Venugopal will succeed Mukul Rohatgi, who after a three-year stint as country’s top law officer, wanted to return to the private practice.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has welcomed the appointment and stated that seasoned constitutional expert would marry the experience and the knowledge and lend weight to top law officer’s post.

Sprightly for his age, Mr. K K Venugopal carries a very different persona from thwe most of his 12 predecessors. With more than 50 years of practice in Supreme Court, his legal acumen is accompanied by serene exterior and he remains calm even during most stormy arguments in the court.

 

He started appearing in Supreme Court in early 1960s while being based in erstwhile Madras, was designated as a Senior Advocate by SC in 1972.

Five years later, he was invited by Janata Party Government led by Morarji Desai to become Additional Solicitor General which warranted shifting from Madras to Delhi.

Source - PTI