Sanjay Jain

Sanjay Jain is a prominent Indian lawyer and former Additional Solicitor General of India.

His legal career is marked by significant contributions to various fields of law, including constitutional issues, taxation, insolvency and public interest litigation.

Sanjay Jain completed his schooling across various cities in India, finally joining the University of Delhi in 1979 to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours).

He later shifted to legal studies, enrolling in Law Centre – I of the University of Delhi, where he was elected President of the Students' Union in 1984-85.

He also has a Masters in Political Science from the University of Delhi.

Jain began his legal career in 1985, initially focusing on civil litigation.

The 1990s saw a diversification in his practice, with an expanding client base that included multinational corporations like American Express and GE Capital, amongst others.

Jain is a first-generation lawyer.

Bar Council of Delhi

In 1998 and 2003, Jain was elected as a member of the Bar Council of Delhi, where he served as Honorary Secretary and played a role in modernizing its functioning.

He also chaired its Disciplinary Committee, as well as served as the Chairperson of the Advocate Welfare Trust Committee.

Senior Advocate

During his tenure, he handled a wide array of cases, including high-profile scams, challenges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) Tribunals, and issues related to the Competition Act, 2002.

Jain was involved in key cases concerning drug price control orders, the subsidy regime for urea and fertilizers, and coal mines allocation auctions.

He also represented complex Income Tax matters across various high courts in India, contributing significantly to the legal discourse in these areas.

The Delhi High Court designated Jain as a Senior Advocate in December 2005, recognizing his legal expertise in various domains, including Intellectual Property Laws and Commercial Disputes.

The 2G spectrum scam, a major political and financial scandal in India, surfaced in 2010, highlighting issues of corruption, transparency, and accountability in governance.

ASG at the Delhi High Court (2014-2019)

In 2014, Sanjay Jain was appointed as the Additional Solicitor General of India at the Delhi High Court.

In 2015, he was appointed to support the Rajya Sabha in a motion for impeachment of a High Court Judge before the Judges Inquiry Committee.

In 2017, a special CBI court acquitted all the accused, citing insufficient evidence.

However, this decision was later appealed.

Sanjay Jain represented the CBI in these appeal proceedings.

Even after resuming private practice, he continued to play a role in this matter as the Special Public Prosecutor for the 2G Spectrum scam-related cases.

Anti-International Arbitration Injunction Suits

Jain played a key role in two significant anti-arbitration injunction suits filed on behalf of the Union of India against Khaitan Holdings (Mauritius) Ltd. and Vodafone Group.

These suits aimed to restrain the companies from continuing arbitral proceedings under Bilateral Investment Treaties.

In the Vodafone case, the Delhi High Court upheld the argument that Indian courts had jurisdiction over such matters.

Class Action Petition against Nestle

Representing the Department of Consumer Affairs, Sanjay Jain was involved in a class action suit against Nestle India.

The lawsuit, amounting to Rs 640 crores, addressed allegations of unfair trade practices related to Maggi, a ready-to-cook instant noodles.

Short Service Commission for Women in the Army

In a landmark case related to gender equality in the Indian Armed Forces, Jain represented the Union Government.

The Supreme Court directed the grant of permanent commission and consequential promotions to women Short Service Commission officers, acknowledging Jain's contributions to resolving complex issues in this case.

ASG at the Supreme Court of India (2019-2023)

In January 2019, Jain's role expanded as he was appointed the Additional Solicitor General for the Supreme Court of India.

His portfolio included cases related to Direct and Indirect Taxes, Reservation Policy, Land Acquisition, and Arbitration.

Post the Covid-19 pandemic, Jain's work encompassed an expanded range of legal issues, including service law, education law, constitutional matters, and cases involving the death penalty, narcotics, and money laundering.

A notable achievement during this period was his involvement in the Lajpat Nagar Bomb Blast case, where his arguments contributed to the reversal of acquittal and reduction of punishment for the convicts.

The 2G Spectrum Scam