Supreme Court issues new guidelines for designation of Senior Advocates

By Notification dated 11-02-2026, issued in terms of the Jitender v. State (NCT of Delhi), (2025) 10 SCC 651, dated 13-05-2025, the Supreme Court has amended/modified/replaced the earlier 2023 Guidelines and approved the new “Guidelines for Designation of Senior Advocates by the Supreme Court of India, 2026”.

1. Constitution of the Committee

All matters relating to designation are to be dealt with by a Permanent Committee known as the “Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates”, consisting of the Chief Justice of India (Chairperson) and two senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court. The Committee shall meet “whenever exigencies require” and shall have a Permanent Secretariat.

2. Initiation of Process

The Secretariat is required to initiate the process “at least once every year” by inviting applications. The notice is to be published on the official website of the Supreme Court, with intimation to the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association. A minimum of twenty-one days’ time is to be granted for submission of applications.

3. Eligibility Conditions

   An Advocate must have —

   • “At least ten years’ standing as an Advocate” or ten years’ combined standing as Advocate and as District & Sessions Judge/Judicial Member of a Tribunal (with requisite eligibility);

   • Practice mainly in the Supreme Court (with concession in appropriate cases of domain expertise before specialized Tribunals);

   • “Attainment of the age of 45 years”, unless relaxed by the Full Court;

   • No rejection within two years or deferral within one year preceding the notice inviting applications.

4. Compilation of Data and Stakeholder Input

The Secretariat compiles data regarding “reputation, conduct and integrity” and publishes the proposals on the website inviting suggestions/views of stakeholders, granting at least fifteen days for response. The proposals are thereafter placed before the Full Court.

5. Criteria for Assessment by the Full Court

   The Full Court makes its “overall assessment on the basis of ability, standing at the Bar or special knowledge or experience in law of the candidates” considering the following —

   • Ability includes “very sound knowledge of law”, “skills of advocacy”, writing articles/commentaries, and “capacity to rationally critique judicial decisions”.

   • Standing at the Bar includes fairness, respect, decorum, acting “first as an officer of the Court”, adherence to “the highest standards of professional etiquette and ethics”, mentoring juniors, pro bono work, honesty and integrity.

   • Special Knowledge of Law refers to expertise in particular branches such as Arbitration, Insolvency and Bankruptcy, Company Law, Intellectual Property Law, Tax Laws, etc.

   • There must be “No criminal antecedents”, and no punishment for offences involving moral turpitude, contempt, or professional misconduct

The list of qualities is expressly stated to be “illustrative in nature, and not exhaustive”

6. Decision-Making Process

The decision is to be by consensus, failing which, by majority. Secret ballot may be resorted to “in an exceptional situation, for reasons to be recorded”. Even in the absence of an application, the Full Court may recommend designation de hors an application in a deserving case, subject to consent.

7. Provision for Former Chief Justices/Judges

Former Chief Justices and Judges of High Courts may submit a request-cum-consent letter (Annexure ‘J’). However, those who have accepted any full-time assignment will not be considered so long as they hold that assignment.

8. Reconsideration, Deferral and Review

All cases which are not considered by the Full Court —

• Cases not favourably considered shall be reviewed after two years.

• Deferred cases shall not be considered until expiry of one year.

• The Advocate may apply afresh thereafter in accordance with the procedure applicable at that time.

The Full Court retains the power to “review its decision” and “recall the conferment of designation” if the Advocate is found guilty of conduct disentitling him/her, after affording an opportunity of hearing.

General Instructions for submitting Request-cum-Consent Letter for Designation of Senior Advocate as follows —

1. Form and Presentation

The letter must be in English, typed/printed in Arial-14 font, in double spacing. It must be printed on one side of white A4 paper. An inner margin of about four centimetres must be maintained on the top and left side.

2. Annexures and Indexing

Copies of the Enrolment Certificate, Resumption of Practice Certificate, and list of citations of reported judgments must accompany the request. All accompanying documents must be numbered consecutively in the Index, in all sets. Every annexure must be supported by an Index containing details thereof. The Registry may, at any stage, call for supportive documents for verification.

3. Consistency of Name

The applicant’s name must tally with the name in the enrolment certificate.

4. Mode of Filing

The request-cum-consent letter must be filed in the form of a paperbook, duly tagged and indexed, and not in spiral binding or the like. Three identical sets of Annexure-J (paperbook form) are required.

5. Soft Copy Requirement

A soft copy in searchable mode, along with the scanned photograph, must also be submitted through e-mail (cdsa.2018@sci.nic.in), in addition to the hard copy.