Supreme Court Upholds High Courts’ Power to Suo Motu Designate Senior Advocates

The Supreme Court has upheld the authority of High Courts to suo motu designate advocates as Senior Advocates.

The court overturned a 2021 Orissa High Court decision that had invalidated Rule 6(9) of the Orissa High Court’s 2019 Rules, which allowed for such designations without formal applications. 

Citing the 2025 Jitender Kalla judgment, the bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan held that full courts may confer senior status in exceptional cases, provided the procedure remains fair, transparent, and merit-based.

The designation of five senior advocates by the Orissa High Court in 2019 was upheld.