Members of the Opposition on Wednesday created pandemonium in the state Legislative Council, demanding a full-fledged Advocate General (AG) for Maharashtra. They insisted that appointment of an acting AG was unconstitutional so much so, the house had to be adjourned four times.
After former AG, Shreehari Aney’s resignation, the state government appointed Assistant Solicitor General of India (ASI) Rohit Deo as Acting AG. However, Congress legislator Sanjay Dutt alleged that Mr Deo’s appointment was unlawful.
Mr Dutt said, “According to the Supreme Court’s judgment, the post of Associate or Additional Advocate of the State has no constitutional basis and he/she cannot function on the constitutional post of AG, which is what is happening in Maharashtra. The government, instead of making appointments to such constitutional posts on the basis of merit, has been giving greater weightage and preference to parameters such as ideological background.”
CP legislator Rahul Narvekar said that it was the AG’s duty to present the state’s stand when important legislations like the ban on dance bars are challenged in courts. Will the acting AG be able to do that competently, he questioned.
Responding to the allegations, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly claimed that there was no prohibition on the appointment of an acting AG. “The appointment of AG is totally a prerogative of the government. Since the time of the British, 24 lawyers have been appointed as acting AGs. During the period between 1948 and 1957, A.P. Amir worked as acting AG of the state.” Mr Fadnavis asserted that the state government was completely aware of its responsibility and would appoint a full-fledged AG at the appropriate time. Till then, the acting AG would continue to work, he said.
Dissatisfied with the CM’s reply however, Opposition members continued to create a ruckus in the council. Even after the House was adjourned four times, they carried on with their protests. So much so, House proceedings had to be conducted amid the bedlam.
