Tushar Mehta reappointed Solicitor General for third term from July 2026
Synopsis
Tushar Mehta's third consecutive reappointment as Solicitor General — effective 1 July 2026 — will push his total tenure to 11 years, making him one of the longest-serving second-highest law officers in India's history. The ACC simultaneously reappointed five Supreme Court ASGs and extended the Delhi High Court ASG, signalling broad continuity in the government's top legal bench.
Key Takeaways
Tushar Mehta has been reappointed Solicitor General of India for a three-year term from 1 July 2026 , approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet .
This is his third reappointment ; he was first appointed in October 2018 and re-appointed in 2020 and 2023 .
By the end of the new term, Mehta will have served approximately 11 years as Solicitor General — among the longest in India's history.
Five Additional Solicitors General for the Supreme Court — Vikramjit Banerjee , K.M.
Venkataraman , and Aishwarya Bhati — were also reappointed for three years.
Chetan Sharma was reappointed as ASG for the Delhi High Court for a further six months from 1 July 2026 .
The Centre has cleared the re-appointment of Tushar Mehta as Solicitor General of India for a fresh three-year term beginning 1 July 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the extension, as confirmed by an order from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
What the Order Says
The DoPT order states: 'The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-appointment of Shri Tushar Mehta as Solicitor General of India for a further term of three years with effect from 01.07.2026 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.' The Solicitor General is the second-highest law officer of the Union government, ranking below the Attorney General.
Mehta's Tenure and Track Record
Mehta was first appointed Solicitor General in October 2018, having previously served as an Additional Solicitor General. The Centre re-appointed him for a three-year term from 1 July 2020, and again in 2023. With this latest extension, he will have served approximately eight years in the role by mid-2026, and is on course to complete 11 years as Solicitor General by the end of the new tenure — placing him among the longest-serving law officers in independent India's history.
Over his tenure, Mehta has represented the Union government in numerous high-profile constitutional, policy, and criminal matters before the Supreme Court and several High Courts, including landmark cases touching on fundamental rights, national security, and federal policy.
Five ASGs Also Reappointed for Supreme Court
In the same order, the ACC approved the re-appointment of five Additional Solicitors General (ASGs) for the Supreme Court, each for a further term of three years. Vikramjit Banerjee and K.M. Nataraj have been reappointed with effect from 1 July 2026, while S.V. Raju, N. Venkataraman, and Aishwarya Bhati have been reappointed with effect from 30 June 2026.
Delhi High Court ASG Reappointed for Six Months
In a separate decision, the ACC cleared the re-appointment of Chetan Sharma as Additional Solicitor General for the Delhi High Court for a further period of six months with effect from 1 July 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The shorter tenure is consistent with standard practice for High Court law officers approaching the end of their fixed-term cycles.
The batch reappointments signal continuity in the government's legal representation strategy ahead of several constitutionally significant cases expected to come up for hearing in the Supreme Court over the next term.
Point of View
If completed, would be extraordinary by any measure and raises a legitimate question about the health of the talent pipeline for the second-highest law officer role. At the same time, continuity has a practical logic: Mehta carries institutional memory across a decade of high-stakes constitutional litigation, and replacing that mid-stream carries real legal risk for the government. The simultaneous reappointment of five ASGs suggests the Centre is locking in its entire senior legal team ahead of what is expected to be a dense Supreme Court docket in 2026-27.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Tushar Mehta been reappointed as Solicitor General?
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Mehta's reappointment for a further three-year term from 1 July 2026, citing continuity in the government's legal representation. He has served as Solicitor General since October 2018 and has handled numerous high-profile constitutional and criminal matters before the Supreme Court.
How long will Tushar Mehta have served as Solicitor General after this term?
By the end of the new three-year term, Mehta will have served approximately 11 years as Solicitor General — making him one of the longest-serving holders of the office in independent India's history.
Who are the Additional Solicitors General reappointed alongside Mehta?
Five ASGs for the Supreme Court were reappointed: Vikramjit Banerjee and K.M. Nataraj from 1 July 2026, and S.V. Raju, N. Venkataraman, and Aishwarya Bhati from 30 June 2026. Chetan Sharma was separately reappointed as ASG for the Delhi High Court for six months from 1 July 2026.
What is the role of the Solicitor General of India?
The Solicitor General is India's second-highest law officer, ranking below the Attorney General. The office is responsible for representing the Union government in significant cases before the Supreme Court and advising the government on complex legal matters.
Who approved Tushar Mehta's reappointment?
The reappointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and formalised through an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on 21 June 2025.
