Home India Ministry of Law and Justice Amendment to Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rule, 1987...
Date: 2026-02-05 Category: Extra Ordinary State: Union Government Country: India

Amendment to Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rule, 1987 pertaining to revision of fee

Issued by Ministry of Law and Justice · Department of Legal Affairs

Research with AI Agent Chat with Document Generate Summary Translate Helpful Share Add to Project Create Task

Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

**Executive Summary** This document is a notification from the Ministry of Law and Justice amending the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987. The amendments concern the retainer fees, appearance fees, and allowances for Law Officers of the Government of India. These amendments are effective from February 1, 2026. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Title and Commencement:** * These rules are called the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2026. * They came into force on February 1, 2026. * **Amendment to Rule 7:** The document substitutes Rule 7 of the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987, with a new rule regarding retainer, fees, and allowances. * **Retainer Fees (per month, except during leave):** * Attorney General: ₹1,20,000 * Solicitor General: ₹96,000 * Additional Solicitor General: ₹72,000 * **Fees for Appearances and Other Work:** Specified rates for various legal services, including: * Suits, writ petitions, appeals, and references under Article 143 (per case per day): ₹38,400 * Special leave petitions and other applications (per case per day): ₹24,000 * Settling pleadings (including affidavits per pleading): ₹12,000 * Settling a statement of case (per case): ₹14,400 * Giving opinions in statements of cases sent by the Ministry of Law (per case): ₹24,000 * Written submission before the Supreme Court, High Court, and Commissions of Inquiry or Tribunals (per case): ₹24,000 * Appearance in Courts outside Delhi (per day per case): ₹96,000 (Only for Law Officers in Supreme Court of India) * Appearance in courts within their jurisdiction, apart from their headquarters (per day per case): ₹60,000 (For Additional Solicitor General for India in High Courts) * **Travel Allowances:** Law Officers will be paid or reimbursed for travel, boarding, and lodging when required to travel outside their headquarters on duty, based on their respective pay levels in the seventh central pay commission, equivalent to Group 'A' officers of the Central Government. * Attorney General for India: pay level-18. * Solicitor General for India: pay level-17. * Additional Solicitor General for India: pay level-15. * **Fees for Other Duties:** Law Officers performing duties other than those specified in Rule 5, such as acting as an arbitrator, will receive fees determined by the Central Government. * **Past Amendments:** Lists prior amendments to the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987. **Impact Analysis** **Stakeholders Impacted:** * Attorney General of India * **Impact:** Increased monthly retainer fee. * **Action Required:** No specific action outlined. * Solicitor General of India * **Impact:** Increased monthly retainer fee. * **Action Required:** No specific action outlined. * Additional Solicitor General of India * **Impact:** Increased monthly retainer fee. * **Action Required:** No specific action outlined. * Other Law Officers * **Impact:** Potential changes to appearance fees and travel allowances. * **Action Required:** No specific action outlined. * Ministry of Law and Justice * **Impact:** Implementation and administration of revised fee structure and travel allowances. * **Action Required:** Implement the amended rules. * Government of India * **Impact:** Updated fee structure and allowance guidelines for Law Officers. * **Action Required:** No specific action outlined.

Key Entities Referenced

Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987: The principal rules being amended, related to the terms and conditions of service for Law Officers. Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2026: The amending rules, specifying changes in retainers, fees, and allowances for Law Officers. Article 76 of the Constitution: Article of the Constitution that provides the foundation for the power exercised to make the amending rules. Article 309 of the Constitution: Article of the Constitution read with Article 76, which empowers the President to formulate rules relating to the conditions of service of law officers. Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs): The government ministry responsible for issuing the notification and formulating the amending rules related to Law Officers.
Official Source Record View Original Source →
See Full Document Text
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-05022026-269851 CG-DxLx-xEG-I0D5H0x2x2x0 26-269851 xxxGIDExxx असाधारण EXTRAORDINARY भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i) PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i) प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY स.ं 104] नई दिल्ली, बहृ स्ट्प जतिार, फरिरी 5, 2026/माघ 16, 1947 26/पौष 17, 1947 No. 104] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026/MAGHA 16, 1947 /PAUSHA 17, 1947 जिजध और न्याय मत्रं ालय (जिजध काय यजिभाग) अजधसचू ना नई दिल्ली, 5 फरिरी, 2026 सा.का.जन. 110(अ).— राष्ट्रपजत, संजिधान के अनच्ु छेि 76 के साथ पठित अनच्ु छेि 309 के परंतुक द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, जिजध अजधकारी (सेिा की ितें) जनयम, 1987 का और संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती ह,ैं अथायत ्ः- 1. (1) इन जनयमों का संजिप्त नाम जिजध अजधकारी (सेिा की ितें) संिोधन जनयम, 2026 ह ै। (2) य ेरािपत्र 01, फरिरी, 2026 की तारीख स ेप्रिृत्त होंग े। 2. जिजध अजधकारी (सेिा की ितें) जनयम, 1987 के जनयम 7 के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत जनयम रखा िाएगा, अथायत ्ः- "7. ठरटेनर, फीस और भत्ते- जनयम 5 म ेंउजल्लजखत कतयव्यों का जनष्पािन करन के जलए, जिजध अजधकारी को - (क) उसकी छुट्टी की अिजध के िौरान के जसिाय,- (i) महान्यायिािी के मामल े में, एक लाख बीस हिार रुपये प्रजतमास्ः (ii) महा-साजलसीटर के मामले में, जछयानि ेहिार रुपय ेप्रजतमास; और (iii) अपर महा-साजलसीटर के मामले में, बहत्तर हिार रुपये प्रजतमास" 831 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] ठरटेनर का संिाय दकया िाएगा। (ख) उच्चतम न्यायालय, जिजभन्न उच्च न्यायालयों, िांच आयोगों या अजधकरणों और इत्यादि के समि लंजबत मामलों म ें भारत सरकार की ओर स ेउपजस्ट्थत होन े तथा अन्य कायय के जलए जनम्नजलजखत मापमानों पर फीस, अथायत ्ः- क्रम कायय के मि की नाम पद्धजत उच्चतम न्यायालय, उच्च न्यायालय (दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय सजहत) सं. और अन्य न्यायालय (उच्चतम न्यायालय या उच्च न्यायालय स े जभन्न) या दकसी अजधकरण या दकसी िांच आयोग या दकसी मध्यस्ट्थ के समि मामलों म ें उपजस्ट्थजत और अन्य कायय के जलए संिेय फीस की िरें (1) (2) (3) 1. िाि, ठरट याजचकाएं, अपील और अनुच्छेि 143 38,400 रुपए प्रजत मामला प्रजतदिन के अधीन संिभय (प्रजत मामला प्रजतदिन) 2. जििेष अनुमजत याजचकाएं और अन्य आिेिन (प्रजत 24,000 रुपए प्रजत मामला प्रजतदिन मामला प्रजतदिन) 3. अजभिचनों का जनपटान (िपथ पत्रों सजहत प्रजत 12,000 रुपए प्रजत अजभिचन अजभिचन) 4. मामले के कथन का जनपटान 14,400 रुपए प्रजत मामला 5. जिजध मंत्रालय द्वारा भेि ेगए मामलों के कथनों म ें 24,000 रुपए प्रजत मामला राय िने े के जलए (केिल संिैधाजनक या कानूनी जनियचन संबंधी और महत्िपूण यप्रश्नों को अंतियजलत करने िाल ेमामलों के जलए) प्रजत मामला 6. उच्चतम न्यायालय, उच्च न्यायालय और िांच 24,000 रुपए प्रजत मामला आयोगों या अजधकरणों के समि जलजखत जनिेिन के जलए (प्रजत मामला) 7. दिल्ली से बाहर न्यायालयों म ें उपजस्ट्थजत (केिल 96,000 रुपए प्रजतदिन प्रजत मामला भारत के उच्चतम न्यायालय में जिजध अजधकाठरयों के जलए) प्रजत मामला प्रजतदिन 8. उच्च न्यायालयों म ेंअपर महा-साजलजसटर के जलए 60,000 रुपए प्रजतदिन प्रजत मामला अपन ेमुख्यालयों के अलािा उनकी अजधकाठरता के भीतर न्यायालयों में उपजस्ट्थजत के जलए स्ट्पष्टीकरण्ः- यदि समान तकों के साथ सारिान रूप से एक िसै े प्रश्नों को अंतियजलत करने िाले िो या िो से अजधक मामलों की सुनिाई एक साथ की िाती ह ैतो जिजध अजधकारी केिल एक ही मामल े के रूप म ेंफीस का हकिार होगा । (ग) िहां दकसी जिजध अजधकारी को अपने कतयव्यों के जनियहन में मुख्यालय से बाहर यात्रा दकया िाना अपेजित है, िहां क्रमि्ः :- (i) भारत के महान्यायिािी के जलए, सातिें केंद्रीय िेतन आयोग के िेतन स्ट्तर-18 पर; (ii) भारत के महा-साजलजसटर के जलए, सातिें केंद्रीय िेतन आयोग के िेतन स्ट्तर-17 पर; (iii) भारत के अपर महा-साजलजसटर के जलए, सातिें केंद्रीय िेतन आयोग के िेतन स्ट्तर-15 पर; केंद्रीय सरकार के समूह ‘क’ अजधकारी की पात्रता के अनसु ार यात्रा बोर्डिंग और आिास के जलए संिाय या प्रजतपूर्त य की िाएगी ।[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3 (घ) यदि दकसी जिजध अजधकारी से जनयम 5 म ें जनर्ियष्ट कतयव्यों िैसे मध्यस्ट्थ के रूप में काय य करना या िोनों पिकारों, जिनमें एक पिकार भारत सरकार है, को सुनने के पश्चात राय िेना, से जभन्न दकसी कतयव्य का पालन करने की अपेिा की िाती ह,ै तो उसे ऐसी फीस का संिाय दकया िाएगा िो केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा अिधाठरत की िाए। [फा.सं. 12011/6/2025/न्या.] एम.सी. प्रजष्ट, िठरष्ट सरकारी अजधििा पाि ठटप्पण्ः- जिजध अजधकारी (सेिा की ित)ें जनयम, 1987 भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखंड (i) तारीख 1 िनिरी, 1987 को अजधसूचना सं. सा.का.जन. 1 (अ), तारीख 1 िनिरी, 1987 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए थ े और तत्पश्चात उनम ेंजनम्नजलजखत अजधसूचनाओं द्वारा संिोधन दकए गए : 1. सा.का.जन. नं. 379(अ) तारीख 14 अप्रलै , 1987 2. सा.का.जन. 473(अ), तारीख 22 िून, 1993 3. सा.का.जन. नं. 403(अ) तारीख 2 िून, 1999 4. सा.का.जन. नं. 345(अ) तारीख 10 मई, 2001 5. सा.का.जन. नं. 106(अ) तारीख 25 फरिरी, 2005 6. सा.का.जन. नं. 723(अ) तारीख 16 दिसंबर, 2005 7. सा.का.जन. नं. 568(अ) तारीख 18 िुलाई, 2008 8.. सा.का.जन. न.ं 772(अ) तारीख 1 अिूबर, 2015 । MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE (Department of Legal Affairs) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 5th February, 2026 G.S.R. 110(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to article 309 read with article 76 of the Constitution, the President hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987, namely :- 1. (1) These rules may be called the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2026. (2) They shall come into force with effect from 01st day of February, 2026. 2. In the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987, for rule 7, the following rule shall be substituted, namely: - “7. Retainer, fee and allowances.” For the performance of the duties mentioned in rule 5, a Law Officer shall be paid (a) a retainer, except during the period of his leave, - (i) in the case of the Attorney General, of rupees one lakhs twenty thousand per month; (ii) in the case of the Solicitor-General, of rupees ninety-six thousand per month; and (iii) in the case of Additional Solicitor General, of rupees seventy-two thousand per month;4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] (b) a fee for appearance and other work on behalf of the Government of India in cases before the Supreme Court, various High Courts, Commissions of Inquiry or Tribunals and the like on the following scales, namely: - Serial Nomenclature of the item of work Rates of fees payable for appearance and other works Number in cases before the Supreme Court, High Court (Including Delhi High Court) and any Court (other than the Supreme Court or High Court) or a Tribunal or a Commission of Inquiry or an Arbitrator (1) (2) (3) 1. Suits, writ petitions, appeals and Rs. 38,400/- per case per day reference under article 143 (per case per day). 2. Special leave petitions and other Rs. 24,000/- per case per day applications (per case per day). 3. Settling pleadings (including Rs. 12,000/- per pleading affidavits per pleading) 4. Settling statement of case Rs. 14,400/- per case (per case per day) 5. For giving opinions in statements of Rs. 24,000/- per case cases sent by the Ministry of Law (Only for matters involving questions of Constitutional or Statutory interpretation and importance) per case 6. For written submission before the Rs. 24,000/- per case Supreme Court, High Court and Commissions of Inquiry or Tribunals (per case) 7. Appearance in Courts outside Rs. 96,000/- per day per case Delhi (Only for Law Officers in Supreme Court of India) per case per day 8. For appearance in courts within Rs. 60,000/- per day per case their jurisdiction, apart from their headquarters, for Additional Solicitor General for India in High Courts. Explanation.- If two or more cases involving substantially identical questions are heard together with common arguments, Law Officers shall be entitled to only one fee as for a single case. (c) Where a Law Officer is required to perform journeys outside the headquarter in the course of his duties, he shall be paid or reimbursed for travelling, boarding and lodging as per the entailment of group ‘A’ Officer of the Central Government as follows: - (i) Attorney General for India at pay level-18 of the seventh central pay commission;[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5 (ii) Solicitor General for India at pay level-17 of the seventh central pay commission; (iii) Additional Solicitor General for India at pay level- 15 of the seventh central pay commission respectively. (d) If a Law Officer is called upon to perform any duty other than those referred to in rule 5, such as, acting as Arbitrator or giving any opinion in any matter after hearing both the sides, one being the Government of India, he shall be paid such fee as may be determined by the Central Government. [F. No. 12011/6/2025-Judl.] M.C. PRUSTY, Senior Government Advocate Pot Note: The Law Officers (Conditions of Services) Amendment Rules,1987 were published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary part II, Section 3, Sub-Section (i), dated the 1st January, 1987 vide notification number G.S.R. 1(E) dated the 1st January, 1987 and subsequently amended wide the following notifications, namely: 1. G.S.R. No. 379(E), dated the 14th April,1987 2. G.S.R. 473 (E), dated the 22nd June, 1993 3. G.S.R. R 403 (E), dated the 2nd June, 1999 4. G.S.R.345 (E), dated the10th May, 2001 5. G.S.R. 106 (E), dated the 25th February, 2005 6. G.S.R. 723(E), dated the16th December, 2005. 7. G.S.R. 568 (E), dated the 18th July, 2008 8. G.S.R. 772(E), dated on 1st October, 2015. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

Continue your research