Question

Which statements are true in relation to the Advocate General of Kerala?

i. K.V. Suryanarayana Iyer was the first Advocate General of Kerala.

ii. The current Advocate General of Kerala is K. Gopalakrishna Kurup.

iii. The Advocate General of Kerala is appointed by the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.

iv. The Advocate General of Kerala must resign when the state government changes.

• A. All statements are correct
• B. All statements are incorrect
• C. The first two statements (i and ii) are correct
• D. The last two statements (iii and iv) are correct

Answer 1

Answer:

C. The first two statements (i and ii) are correct

Advocate General of Kerala

• First Advocate General: K.V. Suryanarayana Iyer holds the distinction of being the first Advocate General of Kerala. This historical fact is often tested in exams focusing on the state's administrative and legal history.

• Current Advocate General: K. Gopalakrishna Kurup is the current Advocate General of Kerala. Keeping track of current appointments for key positions is crucial for general awareness sections in competitive examinations.

• Appointment Authority: The Advocate General of Kerala is appointed by the Governor of Kerala, not the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. This is a common point of confusion and a frequent subject for multiple-choice questions. Article 165 of the Indian Constitution outlines the appointment of the Attorney General and Advocate Generals.

• Tenure and Resignation: The Advocate General holds office during the pleasure of the Governor. While it is customary for the Advocate General to resign when the state government changes, it is not a constitutional mandate. The Governor has the discretion to continue or replace the Advocate General. This nuance is important for understanding the constitutional provisions related to the office.

• Constitutional Role: The Advocate General is the chief legal advisor to the State Government and performs duties of a legal character as may from time to time be referred or assigned to him by the Governor. This role is analogous to the Attorney General at the Union level.

• Qualifications: A person to be appointed as an Advocate General must be a citizen of India, have held a judicial office in India for at least ten years, or have been an advocate for at least ten years in any High Court or two or more such courts. These qualifications are similar to those required for a High Court judge.