MUMBAI: The state is getting a new Advocate General. The Maharashtra Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Sunday, cleared the appointment of senior counsel Milind Sathe, who is to take over immediately from the outgoing AG, Birendra Saraf.Saraf tendered his resignation recently, and the CM, upon accepting it, sought to defer it until the end of Dec to enable the appointment of a replacement. Sathe, a legal veteran, is a former president (2014-2021) of the illustrious Bombay Bar Association. His work before the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court as senior counsel has seen him appear in landmark cases involving constitutional law, high-stakes legal battles, and a litany of public interest litigation (PIL). He has also served as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s special counsel in many cases, including the current suo motu PIL on air pollution, and several times as amicus curiae. Juniors note his vast legal acumen, pragmatic ways, and trademark smile. The governor is expected to issue the notification in a day or two.Sathe, BSc, LLB, joined the Bar in 1982. On Sunday, confirming the development, he said, “It is an honour to be the AG of Maharashtra, and I would do my best.”Senior Counsel Saraf, who served as AG for three years during the state’s turbulent times, successfully steered many sensitive legal battles before the HC and SC. He resigned citing personal reasons. The Cabinet formally thanked Saraf for his diligent stint, and he termed his tenure “an enriching experience.”
