Who is an Amicus Curiae?

Amicus Curiae, means "friend of the court," refers to a person, usually a legal expert or advocate, appointed by the court to assist in a case by offering information, expertise, or insight that may not be provided by the parties involved.

They do not represent any party and remain neutral throughout proceedings.

While Indian statutes don’t explicitly define it, courts derive this concept from inherent powers under Article 142 of the Constitution and Section 165 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

In Rathinam Nagbhushan Patnaik v. Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court recognised the role of an amicus curiae.