Delhi High Court Amends Rules For Designation Of Senior Advocates

The Delhi High Court has amended its 2019 Rules and notified “The High Court of Delhi Designation of Senior Advocate Rules, 2024.”

“Rules framed by the High Court vide Notification No. 295IRuiesIDHC dated 13.03.2019 further amended vide Notification No. 679IRuiesIDHC dated 20.08.2019 for designating an Advocate as Senior Advocate are hereby repealed. However, this repeal shall not, by itself, invalidate the actions taken under the repealed rules,” the notification published on March 14 states.

As per the amended Rules, all matters relating to the designation of Senior Advocates by the Delhi High Court shall be dealt with by a Permanent Committee, which will be known as the "Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates.”

The Committee will comprise of the following members:

- ChiefJustice - Chairperson of the Permanent Committee

- Two Senior most Judges of the High Court - Members

- Additional Solicitor General (High Court of Delhi)- Member

- To be nominated by the Administrative Committee of the High Court out of the names of three Senior Advocates given by the Government of NCT of Delhi -Member

- A member of the Bar nominated by the above

The Rules further state that the Permanent Committee shall meet at least once every calendar year. The Permanent Committee will also have a Secretariat, the composition of which will be decided by the Chief Justice in consultation with the members of the Committee.

For being eligible for designation of Senior Advocate, the lawyer must have practiced as an Advocate at the Bar for not less than 10 years, must be enrolled with the Bar Council, must have mainly practicing in the Delhi High Court and lower courts, must have appeared and argued cases or provided legal services pro-bono and attained the age of 40 years, unless the age limit is relaxed by the Permanent Committee.

As per the Rules, advocates having domain expertise of practising before specialized Tribunals may be given concession with regard to the extent of appearance in the High Court.

“Canvassing by a nominee for designation as a Senior Advocate shall disqualify him for being so designated,” the Rules add.

The amended Rules state that an advocate may be considered by the Delhi High Court for being designated as Senior Advocate either Suo Moto on an application by the lawyer.

“After the overall assessment by the Permanent Committee, all the names listed before it will be submitted to the Full Court along with its Assessment Report. The Full Court shall not be required to record reasons for its decision(s). Voting by secret ballot shall be an exception. In case it has to be resorted to, the reasons for the same should be recorded,” the Rules state.

Furthermore, in the event a Senior Advocate is guilty of misconduct, the Full Court may review its decision to designate the concerned person and recall the same. The Full Court would give an opportunity for a hearing before any such action is taken.

Click Here To Read Rules