Supreme Court Revamps Protocols for Senior Advocate Designation

The Supreme Court on Tuesday introduced new guidelines for conferring senior advocate status, discarding the previous point-based assessment used by the top court and high courts. The bench, consisting of Justices Abhay S Oka, Ujjal Bhuyan, and S V N Bhatti, acknowledged that over the past seven-and-a-half years, the point-based system inadequately assessed applicants' caliber and standing.

In its verdict, the Supreme Court advised high courts to amend their rules in line with the new guidelines within four months. The decision-making process for senior designation will involve the full court's input, utilizing a democratic voting method if consensus is unattainable. However, secret ballots might be implemented at the discretion of each high court.

The minimum qualification of ten years' law practice remains unchanged. The top court stipulated that a designation exercise should occur annually, ensuring consistent evaluation and adherence to the revised guidelines. The court highlighted the necessity for periodic review of the regulations to improve the designation system for senior advocates.

(With inputs from agencies.)