Srinagar, Nov 7: The Jammu and Kashmir government has assured the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh that a regular advocate general will be appointed within a month.

The assurance came on November 6 during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by advocate Harsh Dubey, who has sought judicial intervention for filling the constitutional post.
Senior additional advocate general Monika Kohli, appearing for the Union Territory administration, informed a division bench comprising Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rajnesh Oswal that the appointment process was underway and that a regular advocate general will be appointed within one month.
Taking note of the submission, the court listed the matter for further consideration on December 8.
The post has remained vacant since October 18, 2024, when then advocate general DC Raina submitted his resignation following the formation of the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government.
Since then, Jammu and Kashmir has functioned without a regular advocate general, even as the administration’s legal matters continue to be handled by other law officers, including additional advocate generals.
In his petition, Dubey argued that keeping such an important constitutional office vacant for an extended period has serious implications for the administration of justice, government litigation and the discharge of statutory responsibilities.
The petition, titled Harsh Dubey vs Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Others, seeks a direction to the competent authorities to initiate and complete the appointment process within a timeframe fixed by the court.
Dubey has also highlighted the impact of the vacancy on the Jammu and Kashmir Advocates’ Welfare Fund Trustee Committee, where the advocate general has an important statutory role.