Governor NN Vohra on Wednesday appointed senior advocate DC Raina as advocate general of Jammu & Kashmir.
Raina has been appointed as the AG of the state for the third time now—he was the state’s top law officer for brief stints during governor’s rule in 2008 and 2016.
A source told Greater Kashmir that Gaurav Pachnanda, a prominent Supreme Court lawyer who was also in the race for AG position, declined the assignment citing his engagements in New Delhi.
As AG, Raina represented the state in different cases including the Article 370, NEET and NIT students’ row in the Apex Court and High Courts.
The position of AG had become vacant after Jehangir Iqbal Ganie, who was appointed by the previous PDP-BJP government, was asked to resign by the authorities following imposition of Governor’s rule in the state.
Apart from AG, more than 40 legal counsels representing the state in the High Court had also submitted their resignation to the Governor.
The state was placed under Governor’s rule on June 20 after BJP, in a dramatic move, withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led government and snapped three- and-a- half-year alliance with her party.