The Chief Justice of India said during a hearing on Wednesday that the Advocate General is considered a part of the government, and the government is what the Advocate General thinks. The observation was made in response to comments made by senior advocate AM Singhvi in a petition challenging the Karnataka High Court order quashing the government’s order to hand over the management of the Mahabaleshwar temple at Ramachandrapura Math. During the hearing, Dr. Singhvi, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, argued on the basis of the Advocate General’s opinion.
Dr. Singhvi, while replying to the statement of the CJI, called it ‘degrading the office of the Advocate General’. CJI Bobde, however, clarified that there is no question of debate, as an Advocate General is considered part of the government.
Dr. Singhvi then responded by saying that the Advocate General wears two hats, one as a government official and the other as a court official under the Constitution of India.
The bench reserved the order on interim relief in the matter related to the management of the Gokarna Mahabaleshwar temple.
