The Maharashtra government will soon appoint a new advocate general following the resignation of Birendra Saraf. The top official had submitted his resignation citing personal reasons earlier this month. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the Cabine on Tuesday that Saraf would continue in the post till January 2026 to allow the government time to appoint a successor.
New AG by January 2026
According to reports, Saraf had wanted to enjoy a peaceful life after nearly three years as the Advocate General and possibly return to private practice. He had reportedly met with CM Fadnavis before putting down his papers towards the end of August. He also thanked the state government for the trust reposed in him — adding that he would formally tender resignation to the Maharashtra Governor at the end of this month to avoid any inconvenience.
Who is Birendra Saraf?
Senior advocate Birendra Saraf was appointed as the AG of Maharashtra in December 2022 and represented the state in several high-profile cases. He had practiced law before the Bombay High Court for more than 25 years and held various roles within the Bombay Bar Association. He had also worked in the chambers of former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and former Maharashtra Advocate General Ravi Kadam during his lengthy career.
Saraf graduated from Government Law College in Mumbai after topping the University during all three years of his degree. He also obtained a PhD for his research work on ‘Judicial Intervention in Arbitrations in India’. His first role upon graduation had been working in the chambers of then Chief Justice of India.
He had represented the state government in several important cases during his stint as AG — including the Maratha reservation issue and Badlapur school sexual assault case.The senior lawyer also handled various disputes pertaining to public and commercial law. His recent cases included the fiery clash between Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.