In Brief
Indira Jaising, a Senior Advocate since 1986, challenged the system for designating Senior Advocates in Indian courts as arbitrary and unconstitutional. The Supreme Court held that while Section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961 granting courts power to designate Senior Advocates is valid and does not violate Articles 14, 15, 18 or 21, the subjective exercise must be anchored in objective criteria. The Court rejected mandatory income and age requirements, retaining 10 years' practice as the sole eligibility threshold. It directed the establishment of a permanent Committee for Designation, headed by the Chief Justice and including senior judges, the Attorney General, and a Bar representative, which would assess candidates on a 100-point scale covering years of practice, quality of judgments and pro bono work, publications, and suitability. The reformed system aims to ensure transparency, merit-based selection, and public confidence in the profession's premier ranks.
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