Supreme Court Questions Interview-Based Senior Advocate Designation Process for Eminent Lawyers

On January 31, the Supreme Court sought a relook and questioned the fairness of the Senior Advocate designation process, which is governed by the 2017 Indira Jaising v. Supreme Court of India judgment.

Justice Oka expressed concerns that eminent lawyers could be disadvantaged by brief interviews, as their years of experience may not be properly assessed in a short interaction.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Jaising suggested reevaluating the process, with Jaising emphasizing competence over dignity and proposing a grievance mechanism.

Amicus Curiae S. Muralidhar suggested abolishing the interview, and the Court reserved its order after considering the suggestions.