P. Wilson

Puspanathan Wilson (born June 6, 1966) is a Senior Advocate in India and has served as the Additional Solicitor General of India between August 2012 and May 2014 and as the Additional Advocate General of the State of Tamil Nadu between August 2008 and May 2011.

Background and education

Wilson was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and completed his schooling at Asan Memorial Higher Secondary School. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Science from Loyola College, Chennai and completed his Bachelor of Laws from Madras Law College. He was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu in the year 1989.

Early practice

Wilson joined the Chambers of Shri K.V. Venkatapathi, a former Advocate General of Tamil Nadu after his enrollment. He soon set up his individual practice in the civil side before the Madras High Court. He was appointed as the Standing Counsel for the Corporation of Chennai in the year 1996 and the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation in the year 1998. He was also made Standing Counsel for the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation in the year 1998.In the year 2002 he was appointed as Additional Central Government Standing Counsel and he served for about 3 years in the said post.

Subsequent appointments

Wilson was appointed as the Senior Central Government Standing Counsel in the Madras High Court in the year 2005. He was subsequently appointed as the Special Government Pleader (Writs) by the Government of Tamil Nadu in June 2006.^[1] Barely two months later, he was appointed as the Assistant Solicitor General, Madras High Court in August 2006.^[2]

In August 2008, the Government of Tamil Nadu appointed Wilson to the post of the Additional Advocate General of Tamil Nadu^[3] from which he resigned in May 2011 along with the other law officers in the State.^[4]

Senior advocate

Wilson was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Madras High Court in November 2009 at the age of 43. He has appeared in important Constitutional matters and other matters in the civil and commercial side before the Madras High Court since.

Appointment as Additional Solicitor General of India

Wilson was appointed as the Additional Solicitor General (South India) in August 2012 by the Government of India for the High Courts of Madras, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and their benches. Wilson is the youngest Additional Solicitor General of South India.^[5] Wilson resigned as ASGI (South India) in May 2014 after the change in the Union Government.

Cases

Wilson has successfully defended the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu in several sensitive cases during his tenure. He successfully defended the Government of Tamil Nadu's Samacheer Kalvi system of Uniform School Education before the Madras High Court as well as the Supreme Court of India. He also successfully defended the landmark legislation of the Tamil Nadu Government to fix uniform fees in all schools in the State. He has appeared and defended the National Highways Authority of India in several matters pertaining to large infrastructural projects.

As a Senior Advocate before the Madras High Court, Wilson has appeared in several cases of immense public importance. A few of them are:

1. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the move of the State Government to convert the multi-crore Secretariat Building at Omandurar Government Estate into a Multi-Speciality Hospital. ^[6]

2. The PIL challenging the decision of the State Government to shift the Anna Centenary Library out of its world class building on political considerations. The Hon'ble Madras High Court has stayed the proposed conversion. ^[7]

3. The Constitutional Challenge to the setting up of Special Cells and Special Courts by the State Government to try a class of offences called "land grabbing". The First Bench of the Madras High Court quashed the Government Orders setting up these Courts and Special Cells. ^[8]

As the Additional Solicitor General of India, Wilson has appeared and defended the Government of India and its instrumentalities in several important cases. A few of them are:

1. He successfully represented the Gas Authority of India Limited against the State of Tamil Nadu in the dispute pertaining to the laying of oil and gas pipeline in the Rs. 3000 crore project. The State Government had refused GAIL permission and the Project ultimately proceeded on orders of the Hon'ble Madras High Court. ^[9]

2. He successfully represented the National Highways Authority of India against the State of Tamil Nadu in the legal dispute pertaining to the Rs. 1530 crore Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated corridor project. The State Government had stalled the project and the Madras High Court had ordered its resumption in this case. ^[10]

3. He successfully represented the Department of Atomic Energy in the second round of litigation against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant before the Madras High Court when the State Government sought to delay the commission of the plant. ^[11]

4. He successfully represented the Madras Atomic Power Station in a Public Interest Litigation before the Madras High Court praying for its closure. ^[12]

5. He successfully represented the Union Government and Oil Companies against the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation which challenged the sale of bulk diesel to it at market price. A Single Judge of the Madras High Court had initially granted an order of injunction against the oil companies. Wilson successfully represented them in the appeal and the order of injunction was set aside.

6. He successfully represented the Airport Authority of India in a petition challenging the expansion of the Chennai International Airport

He has also appeared in several high profile cases that were widely covered by the media such as the Vishwaroopam case, and the PIL against conferring of the Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar ^[13]

References

1. "Tamil Nadu News : 11 special government pleaders appointed". The Hindu. 2006-06-12. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
2. "Tamil Nadu News : Assistant Solicitor-General". The Hindu. 2006-08-12. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
3. "Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : New Additional Advocate-General". The Hindu. 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
4. "Govt advocates in HC resign - Times Of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
5. "Centre appoints two additional solicitors general for south India - Times Of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2013-10-05.