Senior Advocate Surojit Nath Mitra Appointed as West Bengal’s New Advocate General

Senior Advocate Surojit Nath Mitra has been appointed as the new Advocate General of West Bengal, taking over the State’s highest law officer position. The appointment was notified by the State government on May 29. Mitra succeeds Senior Advocate Kishore Datta, who stepped down from the post following the change in the political landscape after the recent West Bengal Assembly elections.

The office of the Advocate General holds significant importance in the constitutional framework of a State. As the chief legal advisor to the State government, the Advocate General represents the government before courts and provides legal opinions on important matters affecting governance and public administration.

Surojit Nath Mitra brings more than four decades of legal experience to the role. He has been practising law since March 1983 and has built a reputation in civil and commercial litigation. Over the years, he has appeared in a wide range of matters involving corporate entities, institutions, and private parties before various courts and legal forums.

Mitra studied law and economics at the University of Calcutta between 1978 and 1982. His long professional journey has seen him handle complex disputes across different areas of law. His experience in commercial matters and public law issues is expected to play an important role in advising the State government on legal and constitutional questions.

Apart from courtroom practice, Mitra has also served as an arbitrator in commercial disputes. His involvement in arbitration reflects his experience in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, an area that has gained increasing importance in the legal sector over the years.

One of the notable matters in which Mitra appeared was a 2023 case concerning the appointment of vice-chancellors in State universities. In that matter, he represented the Governor of West Bengal in the Governor’s capacity as Chancellor of the universities. The case attracted significant attention because it involved questions relating to university administration and the powers of constitutional authorities.

The appointment marks a new chapter for the State’s legal administration. As Advocate General, Mitra will be responsible for representing West Bengal in important constitutional, civil, and administrative matters before courts. His extensive experience and long-standing legal practice are expected to contribute significantly to the State’s legal representation and advisory functions.

With the transition now complete, attention will turn to the key legal and constitutional issues that may come before the State government and the courts in the coming months, where the Advocate General’s office is expected to play a central role.