District Judge AK Mendiratta appointed as new Union Law Secretary

Sitting District & Sessions Judge (North East) of the Delhi’s Karkardooma Courts Anoop Kumar Mendiratta has been appointed as the new Union Law Secretary.

As per reports, it is the first time a sitting judge has been appointed as Law Secretary.

AK Mendiratta has been appointed till March 30, 2023, or until he attains the age of 60, whichever is earlier.

Before his stint at Karkardooma, Mendiratta was serving as Principal Judge of the Family Courts at Saket District Court till May 2019. Prior to that, he served as Principal Secretary (Law) for the Delhi government.

The post of Law Secretary has been vacant since December 2018, when Suresh Chandra resigned after the Centre decided against extending his tenure. Secretary of the Department of Justice Alok Shrivastava has since been handling the additional charge of Law Secretary.

The Department of Legal Affairs had put out an advertisement in April this year, calling for applications to the post. Six months later, it has filled the vacant post.

The advertisement made it clear that sitting or retired district judges could apply for the post.

The mandate of the Law Secretary includes giving advice to Ministries on legal matters, and engagement of counsel to appear on behalf of the Union of India in the high courts and the subordinate courts. He is also tasked with rendering advice to the Attorney General, the Solicitor General of India, and other Central government law officers. He is also responsible for the conduct of cases in the Supreme Court and the high courts on behalf of the Centre.

Read the appointment order: