Madras HC Invites Applications For Senior Designation By October 15; Urge SC To Fix Uniform Pattern For Minimum Age [Read Notification]

The notification has been issued under the Madras High Court Designation of Senior Advocates Rules, 2020, after the Permanent Committee, constituted under the said Rules, resolved to proceed with the designation process.

Interested Applications/ Proposals should be submitted to the Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court, between 10.30 am to 4.00 pm on any working day before the deadline, in six hard copies duly complying with all the provisions of the Rules along with a soft copy in Pen Drive.

All applications received shall be processed and published by 31st October, 2020 in terms of Rule 6(3) of the Rules.

In its meeting held on September 14, the Permanent Committee considered certain issues raised by the Tamil Nadu Senior Advocates Forum.

1) For instance, the Forum had asked the Committee to reconsider the decision of fixing a minimum age of 45 years for designation as a Senior Advocate. Accordingly, it has been resolved thus:

"since there are variations in this regard in the Rules of designation of Senior Advocates in the High Courts throughout the country, it would be appropriate that an interim application is moved before the Hon'ble Apex Court for its consideration in this regard in the case of Indira Jaisingh v. Supreme Court of India and others [Writ Petition (C) No.454 of 2015], so as to make a request to the Court to give an indication for a uniform pattern to be applied, and in the event any orders are passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, or directions given, the matter shall be again placed before the Committee for consideration."

The Committee has now asked the Registrar Judicial to take appropriate steps for drafting of the application to be moved before the Apex Court.

2) Further, the Committee has clarified that "Standing Counsel" used in Rule 8(1)(f) does not mean to include either the learned Advocate General, or the learned Additional Advocate Generals of the State, or the learned Additional Solicitor General of India, as they do not file Vakalatnama/Memo of Appearance.

The Committee has also intimated that it has received:

• 24 recommendations from Judges for designating Senior Advocates;

• 3 recommendations have been made by Senior Advocates;

Inter alia, 6 applications received prior to notification of the Rules are pending since December, 2016.

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