New Delhi: A total of 105 lawyers, including 15 women, have applied to the Supreme Court for being designated as senior advocates. Following the receipt of the applications, the Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates (CDSA) has invited suggestions from stakeholders — Bar Council of India, State Bar Councils, High Courts, Supreme Court Bar Association — to the proposal for designation of the applicant.
Advocates with a combined standing practice of not less than 10 years/ district & session judge /judicial member of tribunal/ chief justice or judges of high court are eligible to apply for designation.
A five-member committee headed by Chief Justice of India will finalise the list of the designated senior advocates. The guidelines for selection of the senior advocates has been prescribed in 2017 on the basis of matter related to Ms. Indira Jaising Vs Supreme Court of India case.
The selection for the designated senior advocate is being held after a gap of almost four years. Every year, the CDSA is supposed to invite application twice in January and July . However, the there was no such invitation of application during the last four years. The last time the apex court designated lawyers as senior advocate was in April 2015.
A senior advocate is considered to be an experienced lawyer. He/she is not permitted to appear without an advocate- on -record or without any junior . He/she is prohibited from some kind of legal legal works like drafting, draw pleadings and affidavit.
