Department of Law (Kerala)

Law Department,
Government of Kerala
Department overview
Headquarters
Minister responsible
Department executive
  • K. G. Sanal Kumar, Law Secretary
Websitehttps://lawsect.kerala.gov.in/

The Law Department is a department of the Government of Kerala responsible for the legal and legislative affairs of the State. The Law Department functions as a distinct and independent department within the Government Secretariat, entrusted with the legal and legislative responsibilities of the State Government. It has its headquarters in Kerala Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram.[1]

Governance and administration

The department is under the charge of the minister for law. The incumbent minister for law is V. D. Satheesan, the chief minister of Kerala.[2]

It is administratively headed by the Law Secretary, supported by additional, joint, deputy, and under secretaries at the Secretariat.

The Law Secretary is usually a judicial officer, unlike in other government departments where the Secretary to Government is typically an IAS officer.[3] The incumbent Law Secretary to Government is K. G. Sanal Kumar.[3]

Senior law officers of the Government of Kerala
Office Incumbent(s)
Advocate General of Kerala
K. Jaju Babu
Additional Advocate Generals
  • Sri. Asok M. Cherian
  • Sri. K. P. Jayachandran
State Attorney Anoop V Nair[4]
Director General of Prosecution and State Public Prosecutor (DGP) T. Asaf Ali[5][6]

Functions

The department provides legal advice to the Government, drafts and scrutinises legislation, ordinances, rules, and notifications, and handles matters related to government litigation.[7]

  • General administration of the department
  • Legislative drafting and related work, including:
    • Preparation of legislative proposals
    • Legislative project
    • Legislation[8]
    • Unification of laws
  • Legal advice to government departments
  • Subsidiary Legislation
  • Publications, including statutory materials
  • Translation of legal and legislative documents
Administrative matters related to Government Law Officers;

The Law department administers Government Law Officers (Appointment and Conditions of Service) and Conduct of Cases rules, 1978.[9]

  • Advocate General of Kerala
  • Additional Advocates General (Addl.AGs)
  • State Attorney / State Public Prosecutor (Director General of Prosecution)
  • Additional State Public Prosecutor
  • Administrator General & Official Trustee

Autonomous institutions

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Kerala Law Department Manual" (PDF). Law Department, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "Kerala Cabinet portfolios: Revenue for Anilkumar, Excise for Liju, Electricity for Sunny Joseph". @mathrubhumi. 2026-05-20. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  3. 1 2 S 5931, Sudhi K. (2023-07-24). "K.G. Sanal Kumar is new Law Secretary". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-12-02.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Bench, Bar & (2026-06-10). "Advocate Anoop V Nair appointed Kerala State Attorney". Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  5. ↑ "Jaju Babu is the new Advocate General of Kerala, Asaf Ali appointed Director General of Prosecution". The Hindu. 2026-05-18. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  6. ↑ "Who is Adv T Asaf Ali? Kerala's new DGP appointment by CM VD Satheesan". @mathrubhumi. 2026-05-18. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  7. ↑ "The Kerala Law Department Manual" (PDF). Law Department, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "State to enact legislation to mitigate man-animal conflict". The Hindu. 2025-07-04. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  9. ↑ "Law Secretariat, GoK".
  10. ↑ "Finance dept opposes, but CM disposes big pay hike to Kerala law officers". www.onmanorama.com. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
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