Supreme Court To Interview Lawyers For Senior Designation After 5 Years; Over 200 Advocates Shortlisted

A committee led by the Chief Justice of India will interview today over 200 lawyers who have applied for senior designation. Out of 282 applications, 200 applications have been shortlisted.Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud announced this morning that his bench will rise today early as he has to hold interviews for senior designation. The last time the Supreme Court conferred senior designation on lawyers was in 2019. This time, the process will be under the modified guidelines issued as per the judgment dated May 12, 2023 delivered in Indira Jaising v. Supreme Court of India. Last year, in July, the Supreme Court had asked the lawyers, who had submitted applications as per the notifications of 2022, to submit fresh applications in terms of the modified guidelines.The Senior Designations will be be dealt with by a committee comprising :a) Chief Justice of India : Chairperson(b) Two senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court of India : Members( c) Attorney General for India : Member( d) A member of the Bar, nominated by the Chairperson and Members, referred to in (a) to ( c) above : Member.The names shortlisted by the Committee will be placed before the Full Court. There shall be no voting by secret ballot save in an exceptional situation, for reasons to be recorded. In the Indira Jaising judgment, the Court had ordered that secret voting should be an exception.Eligibility conditions(i) At least(a) ten years' standing as an Advocate; or(b) 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.(ii) Practice mainly in the Supreme Court.Note: Applicant-advocates having domain expertise of practising before specialized Tribunals may be given concession with regard to the extent of appearances in the Supreme Court.(iii) Attainment of the age of 45 years, unless the age limit is relaxed by the Committee, or the name has been recommended by the Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court.CriteriaIn the Indira Jaising judgment, the Supreme Court had reduced the marks awarded for criteria like publications and also included aspects like teaching assignments or guest lectures. The points for notable reported/unreported judgments and pro-bono work has been increased by 10 to make it 50(earlier it was 40).The criteria is now :1 Number of years of practice of the applicant-Advocate from 20 the date of enrolment - 20( 10 points for 10 years of practice and 1 point each for every additional year of practice, subject to a maximum of 20 points).2 Judgments reported and unreported ( excluding orders that 50 do not lay down any principle of law); pro bono work done by the Advocate; domain expertise (such as constitutional law, Inter-State Water Disputes, Criminal law, Arbitration law, Corporate law, Family law, Human Rights, Public Interest Litigation, International law, law relating to women) of the applicant-Advocate. - 503 Publication of academic articles, experience of teaching assignments in the field of law, guest lectures delivered in law schools and professional institutions connected with law - 54 The test of personality and suitability on the basis of interview for a holistic assessment of the applicant - 25Applications to be invited at least once a yearThe Secretariat of the Committee will initiate the process for designation of Senior Advocate at least once every year by inviting applications from Advocates-on-Record/ Advocates for designation as Senior Advocates.The Secretariat will publish the proposals received for designation on the official website of the Supreme Court and invite suggestions/views of other stakeholders on the proposals for designation.The new guidelines can be read here.

Supreme Court To Interview Lawyers For Senior Designation After 5 Years; Over 200 Advocates Shortlisted

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