Kolkata: Senior advocate Surojit Nath Mitra has been appointed as the new Advocate General of West Bengal, marking an important development in the state’s legal administration after the resignation of Kishore Datta from the post.
According to an official notification issued by the state judicial department, the Governor has appointed Mitra as the Advocate General under Article 165(1) of the Constitution of India. The appointment came into effect from the afternoon of May 29 and will continue on usual terms and conditions until further orders.
Mitra’s appointment comes after senior advocate Kishore Datta stepped down as the state’s Advocate General. Datta had resigned following the declaration of the West Bengal Assembly election results. The change is being viewed as part of a wider restructuring of the state’s legal panel under the new political administration.
Surojit Nath Mitra is a senior advocate of the Calcutta High Court and has been active in the legal profession for more than four decades. He studied law and economics at the University of Calcutta between 1978 and 1982 and began his legal practice in March 1983.
Over the years, Mitra has built his reputation mainly in civil and commercial law. He has represented several corporate entities and private litigants in important matters and has also served as an arbitrator in commercial disputes. His long courtroom experience and expertise in civil legal matters are expected to play a key role in handling the state government’s legal challenges.
Mitra had also drawn attention in 2023 when he appeared on behalf of the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of state universities, in a case related to the appointment of vice chancellors in West Bengal universities.
The Advocate General is the top law officer of a state and acts as the principal legal adviser to the government. The office also represents the state in important cases before the High Court and other courts.
With Mitra’s appointment, the West Bengal government has filled a crucial constitutional post at a time when several legal and administrative matters are expected to come before the courts. His immediate responsibility will be to provide legal guidance to the government and present its position in key judicial proceedings.