Senior Designation: Last Date For Applications Extended After SC's Order For Allocation Of One Mark Each For Every Year Of Practice From 10 to 20 Years

In view of Supreme Court's recent order directing High Courts to allocate one mark each for every year of practice between 10 years to 20 years to those who have applied for the senior designation, an extension has been notified for submissions of applications seeking conferment of senior designation

Earlier, 10 marks flat were allocated to counsels who have put in 10-20 years practice.

The Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates has notified that the last date for submission of applications has been extended upto 14th May 2022.

It has been clarified that the Advocates-on-Record or Advocates who have already applied earlier in response to notice dated 25.02.2022 need not apply again.

The advocates may submit their applications addressed to the Chief Justice of India, in the prescribed format in the Secretariat of the Committee latest by 1.30 p.m. on 14th May. Applications received beyond the extended date, i.e., 14.05.2022 will not be accepted.

The change in the designation rules has been made considering the recent clarification issued by a bench comprising Justices UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and PS Narasimha allowing a prayer in an application made by Senior Advocate Indira Jaising.

"We clarify the situation and hold that instead of 10 marks to be allocated to a learned counsel who's put in 10-20 years of practice, marks be allocated commensurate with the standing of the person at the bar, that's to say, one mark each be allocated for every year of practice from 10-20 years." the bench had said

Jaising had earlier filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking guidelines for objective criteria to be followed for conferring senior designations. In 2017, the Court had delivered a judgment in her petition, framing several guidelines and directing the High Courts to adopt the same by framing rules.

Last year, Senior Advocate Jaising moved an application in the writ petition seeking further guidelines by saying that there were anomalies in the rules framed by many High Courts. She sought for directions that the cut-off marks should be announced in advance and that the process of secret voting by Full Court should be stopped.

The other reliefs sought in the application will be considered after after a reply is filed by the Union of India.