Attorney General K.K. Venugopal has informed the Supreme Court that he may not be in office after September 30.
While the Constitution Bench of Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice MR Shah, Justice Krishna Murari, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice PS Narasimha were hearing the tussle between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor over control of services in the capital, the Attorney General hinted about his not joining after September 30.
While the bench was listing the matter of Lieutenant Governor for directions on September 27, before the Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India UU Lalit, Justice Chandrachud informed the counsel appearing before the Bench, “In case the hearing in CJI court spills over this case will be listed on October 11.”
At this point, AG Venugopal told the Bench that there is a little problem and that he is in office only till September 30.
Justice Chandrachud said, “As I told you, you underestimated the Article 142 power in May.”
This indicates that the Apex Court may ask Venugopal to continue as AG even if the Central government does not extend his tenure.
The Attorney General’s tenure was extended for a period of three months or until further orders in end June this year. This extension is set to expire on September 30.
Venugopal became the Attorney General on July 1, 2017 for the term of three years. After which, his term was subsequently extended twice for one year each.
Venugopal is a practicing lawyer for over six decades. Enrolled at the Bar in January 1954 before the Mysore High Court, he started his practice under his father MK Nambiar.
In the beginning , he practiced in litigation relating to the grant of motor vehicle permits, inter-state permits and variation of routes.
He is widely regarded as an expert in Constitutional Law. After staying in Madras for 25 years from the time he joined the High Court of Madras, Venugopal shifted base to Delhi.
He was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court in 1972. In the late 70s, he also served as an Additional Solicitor General for the Morarji Desai government.