In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of designating Senior Advocates under Section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961, finding it is a recognition of merit and standing at the Bar, not an impermissible title. However, recognizing concerns about arbitrariness and lack of transparency, the Court laid down comprehensive, uniform guidelines for all courts. These require a Permanent Committee headed by the Chief Justice, including Bar representatives and the Attorney General, to assess candidates using a 100-point scale covering years of practice, judgments, publications, and suitability. Proposals must be published for stakeholder feedback. The reforms aim to enhance objectivity and fairness in the designation process while rejecting constitutional challenges based on equality and title-conferment grounds.
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