Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on August 10 declined to allow a senior advocate to mention cases for urgent listing. The CJI said only Advocates-on-Record or their junior colleagues will mention the matters now. CJI said he wants to discourage the practice of senior counsel mentioning the matters before him.
What is Advocate-on-Record?
- Advocate-on-Record is an advocate who is entitled under the Order 4 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, framed by the Supreme Court of India under Article 145 of the Constitution, to act as well as to plead for a party in the Supreme Court of India.
- Only these advocates are entitled to file any matter or document before the Supreme Court.
- They can also file an appearance or act for a party in the Supreme Court. No other High Court in India has a similar provision.
- If one wants to practice as an advocate-on-record in the Supreme Court he or she needs an additional qualification. He has to practice for 4 years as an advocate and thereafter has to intimate to the Supreme Court that he has started taking training with a Senior Advocate on record because he intends to become an Advocate-on-record. After the expiry of one year’s training, he has to appear for an examination conducted by the Supreme Court itself.
Who are Senior Advocates?
- Senior Advocates are designated as such by the Supreme Court of India (SCI) or by any High Court.
- The Court can designate any advocate, with his consent, as Senior Advocate if in its opinion by virtue of his ability and standing at the Bar or special knowledge or experience in law, the said advocate is deserving of such distinction.
- A Senior Advocate is not entitled to appear without an Advocate-on-Record in the Supreme Court or without a junior in any other court or tribunal in India.
