Manipur High Court Notifies 'HC (Designation Of Senior Advocates) Rules 2022'

The Manipur High Court has notified the High Court Of Manipur (Designation Of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2022 in the exercise of its powers conferred by Section 34(1) read with Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961, and in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India.

The Rules provide that High Court may designate an Advocate as Senior Advocate, if in its opinion, by virtue of his ability and standing at the Bar, the said Advocate is deserving of such distinction.

Explanation: The term "standing at the Bar" means the position of eminence attained by an Advocate at the Bar by virtue of his seniority, legal acumen, and the high ethical standards maintained by him, both inside and outside the Court.

The rules further state that no person shall be eligible to be designated as a Senior Advocate unless he has a minimum of 10 years standing as an Advocate, of which 5 years of practice should be in any Court within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Manipur and such a person is a permanent resident of the State of Manipur.

While calculating the aforesaid standing of 10 years, the period spent by an Advocate serving as a Judicial Officer shall be taken into consideration, the rules state.

Designation of an Advocate as Senior Advocate by the High Court of Manipur may be considered on the written proposal made by:

(a) the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur; or

(b) any sitting Judge of the High Court of Manipur; or

(c) the Advocate General of the State of Manipur, provided he himself is a Senior Advocate; or

(d) two existing Senior Advocates of the High Court of Manipur:

The rules provide that all the matters relating to the designation of Senior Advocates shall be dealt with by a Permanent Committee (to be known as the "Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates") to be headed by the Chief Justice and it shall consist of:

(i) two senior- most sitting Judges of the High Court of Manipur;

(ii) the Advocate General of the State of Manipur; and

(iii) a member of the Bar, to be nominated by other members in the first meeting of the Committees

Click Here To Read/Download Rules