The Odisha state government appointed Senior Advocate Pitambar Acharya as the Advocate General of Odisha on Friday. The Law Department issued a notification stating: “In pursuance of Clause (1) of the Article 165 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Odisha is pleased to appoint Pitambar Acharya, Senior Advocate, High Court of Orissa to be the Advocate General of the State of Odisha with immediate effect.”
Role and Responsibilities
As the Advocate General, Acharya will serve as the legal advisor to the state government. This position requires him to advise the state on legal matters referred by the Governor, making him the highest law officer in Odisha.
Background
The position became vacant after Ashok Kumar Parija resigned on June 6 following the fall of the BJD government in the state. Since then, government advocate Jyoti Prakash Pattnaik had been serving as the in-charge Advocate General.
Career and Education
Pitambar Acharya has a notable background in both politics and law. He was the vice-president and spokesperson for Odisha BJP and contested against Naveen Patnaik in the 2019 Hinjli assembly constituency elections. His political career started in his student days when he was the president of the students’ union at BJB College in the 90s.
Acharya holds an LLB from University Law College, Utkal University, and a Master’s degree in Political Science. He began his professional journey as a journalist before switching to law.
Legal Career
Acharya has been practicing at the Orissa High Court for over three decades. He has served as the senior standing counsel for the State Election Commission, Odisha Legislative Assembly, and central government. Additionally, he was the legal retainer for several state organizations, including the Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, and Odisha Mining Corporation Limited. He also represented former state BJP president Samir Mohanty in a PIL seeking the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple.
Acharya’s extensive legal experience and political background make him a notable choice for the position of Advocate General in Odisha.
(With inputs from agencies)
