Kerala High Court Proposes Minimum 45 Yrs Age, 10 Yrs Practice For Designation As Senior Advocate, Invites Suggestions From Bar

The Kerala High Court on Friday (September 19) issued a notice containing the draft High Court of Kerala (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2025 as per which one of the conditions for eligibility is that advocate should be 45 years of age. It has invited suggestions/objections on the same, which has to be submitted in writing to the Registrar General, High Court of Kerala, Ernakulam - 682031. The suggestions are to reach the reach the High Court latest by 6-10-2025.As per the draft Rules, any advocate who practices in the High Court of Kerala or any trial Courts in Kerala or specialised Tribunals may be designated as a Senior Advocate by the High Court.The draft Rules also specify the conditions of eligibility."The conditions on which Advocates shall be eligible for designation as Senior Advocates are:(a) if he/she has actually practiced as an Advocate for not less than 10 years or he/she has ten years' combined standing as an Advocate and as a District and Sessions Judge or as a Judicial Member of any Tribunal in India whose qualification for eligibility for such appointment is not less than that prescribed for appointment as a District Judge, out of which 3 years standing as an Advocate shall be post retirement(b) Attainment of the age of 45 years, unless the age limit is relaxed by the Full Court.(c) Has attained position of eminence at the Bar and maintains high standard of decorum(d) he/she follows the highest standards of professional etiquette and ethics(e) he/she acts as a mentor to the Junior Advocates(f) he/she has participated in pro bono work(g) he/she has not been convicted by a competent court of law for an offence involving moral turpitude or contempt of court; or should not have been punished by the Bar Council of Kerala or by Bar Council of India for any act of misconduct."After the expiry of the period of 30 days from the date of publication of the particulars of the applicants in the official website of the High Court of Kerala, the Registrar General shall place the applications for designation before the Full Court on the orders of the Chief Justice.An application for designation which is not accepted by the Full Court of Kerala High Court will be considered afresh only after the expiry of a period of two years from the date on which the application was not accepted by the Full Court and that too, only on receipt of a fresh application for designation by following the procedure applicable at that time.The designation can be revoked if he/she has been found to have committed any professional/other misconduct by any Bar Council.Annexure A of the Rules contains the application format to be filled out.Click to Read/Download Notice

Kerala High Court Proposes Minimum 45 Yrs Age, 10 Yrs Practice For Designation As Senior Advocate, Invites Suggestions From Bar

K. Salma Jennath

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