Appointment of Chief Law Officer and Law Officers

Section 115 of the Coast Guard Act, 1978 deals with appointment of Chief Law Officer and Law Officers. There shall be appointed by the Central Government, a Chief Law Officer and as many Law Officers as the Central Government may deem necessary. The Act came into force on 19 Aug 1978.

(1) There shall be appointed by the Central Government, a Chief Law Officer and as many Law Officers as the Central Government may deem necessary.

(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as Chief Law Officer unless he--

(a) is a citizen of India; and

(b) has for at least ten years held a judicial office in the territory of India; or

(c) has for at least ten years been an advocate of a High Court or two or more such Courts in succession:

Provided that the Central Government may, if it is of opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the exigencies of service, relax, for reasons to be recorded in writing, the qualification specified in clause (b) or clause (c) in respect of any person.

(3) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as Law Officer unless he--

(a) is a citizen of India, and

(b) is qualified for enrolment as an advocate of a High Court.

Explanation.--For the purposes of this section,--

(a) in computing the period during which a person has been an advocate of a High Court, there shall be included any period during which the person has held a judicial office after he became an advocate;

(b) the expression "judicial office" shall be deemed to include the post of Law Officer.

Section 115, The Coast Guard Act, 1978 (Act 30 of 1978).