New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at ensuring continuity in the Union Government’s legal representation before constitutional courts, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the reappointment of Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta for a further term of three years with effect from July 1, 2026.
The ACC has also approved the reappointment of several Additional Solicitors General (ASGs) representing the Centre before the Supreme Court and High Courts. The decision was communicated through a notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on June 20.
With this extension, Mehta will continue as the Union Government’s second-highest law officer and is set to complete nearly eleven years in the office of Solicitor General by the end of the fresh tenure.
Fresh Three-Year Term for Tushar Mehta
According to the government notification, Tushar Mehta will continue as Solicitor General of India for another three years from July 1, 2026, or until further orders.
One of the most prominent legal faces of the Union Government, Mehta has represented the Centre in several landmark constitutional, political, economic and national security-related matters before the Supreme Court and various High Courts.
Having served as Solicitor General since October 2018, Mehta has emerged as one of the longest-serving holders of the office in India’s legal history.
Additional Solicitors General Also Reappointed
Along with Mehta, the ACC approved fresh tenures for several senior law officers representing the Union Government.
Reappointed ASGs for Supreme Court
The following Additional Solicitors General have been granted fresh three-year terms:
- Vikramjit Banerjee – Reappointed from July 1, 2026
- K.M. Nataraj – Reappointed from July 1, 2026
- Suryaprakash V. Raju – Reappointed from June 30, 2026
- N. Venkataraman – Reappointed from June 30, 2026
- Aishwarya Bhati – Reappointed from June 30, 2026
The officers will continue representing the Union Government before the Supreme Court in a wide range of constitutional, taxation, criminal law, economic regulation and governance-related matters.
Delhi High Court ASG Gets Extension
The ACC has also approved the reappointment of Chetan Sharma as Additional Solicitor General for the Delhi High Court.
His tenure has been extended for six months from July 1, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Why the Reappointments Matter
The Centre is currently involved in several high-profile legal battles involving constitutional interpretation, Centre-State relations, national security, digital governance, taxation, citizenship matters, electoral reforms and regulatory issues.
The continuation of the existing legal team is expected to ensure consistency in the government’s legal strategy before constitutional courts.
Legal observers note that the government has chosen stability over change at a time when multiple significant constitutional matters are pending before the Supreme Court.
Who Is Tushar Mehta?
Tushar Mehta is one of India’s most distinguished constitutional lawyers and currently serves as the Solicitor General of India.
Born on September 11, 1964, in Jamnagar, Gujarat, Mehta built a successful legal career before joining government service.
Education
He completed his law degree from L.A. Shah Law College, Ahmedabad, where he earned five gold medals for academic excellence, including the prestigious Nani Palkhivala Medal.
He has also received honorary doctorates from leading institutions, including Amity University and Karnataka State Law University.
Early Legal Career
After enrolling with the Bar Council of Gujarat in 1987, Mehta began his legal practice under noted lawyer Krishnakant Vakharia at the Gujarat High Court.
Over time, he developed expertise in constitutional law, public law and government litigation.
In 2008, at the age of 42, he was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Gujarat High Court.
Rise Through Government Legal Service
Additional Advocate General, Gujarat (2008–2014)
Mehta served as Additional Advocate General for Gujarat, handling major state litigation and constitutional matters.
Additional Solicitor General of India (2014–2018)
Following the formation of the Narendra Modi-led government in 2014, Mehta was appointed Additional Solicitor General of India.
During this period, he represented the Centre in several important cases before the Supreme Court.
Solicitor General of India (2018–Present)
On October 10, 2018, Mehta was elevated as Solicitor General of India.
As the country’s second-highest law officer after the Attorney General, he has represented the Union Government in numerous landmark cases involving:
- Constitutional amendments
- National security matters
- Citizenship and immigration laws
- Digital and technology regulation
- Electoral reforms
- Taxation disputes
- Federal governance issues
- Criminal justice reforms
His courtroom appearances before Constitution Benches of the Supreme Court have made him one of the most recognisable faces of the government’s legal machinery.
One of the Longest-Serving Solicitors General
With the fresh extension approved by the ACC, Mehta is poised to become one of the longest-serving Solicitors General in independent India’s history.
Legal historians note that only the legendary C.K. Daphtary served longer in the office.
By the completion of the current tenure, Mehta will have spent nearly eleven years as Solicitor General and around fifteen years as part of the Union Government’s top legal team, including his tenure as Additional Solicitor General.
Government Signals Confidence in Existing Legal Team
The latest reappointments indicate the Centre’s continued confidence in its senior legal officers, many of whom have been involved in defending key government policies and legislative initiatives before constitutional courts.
The move ensures continuity and institutional memory at a time when several important constitutional and policy matters are expected to come up before the Supreme Court in the coming years.
