Supreme Court Issues Fresh Guidelines on Senior Advocate Designation Process, Scraps Marking System

The Supreme Court issued new guidelines for conferring Senior Advocate designations, removing the existing marking-based system. High Courts must amend their rules within four months.

As per the new guidelines, all eligible applications will be placed before the Full Court for consideration, which may decide designations through consensus or voting. The use of a secret ballot is optional.

Judges can no longer recommend candidates' names individually. The 10-year minimum practice requirement remains unchanged. Annual designation exercises and periodic reviews have been mandated to enhance transparency and fairness.

Until new rules are framed, the court will follow the 2017 Indira Jaising judgment.