Court by Court, category by category: Inside the Centre’s fresh guidelines on becoming Panel Counsel for the Union of India

On 20 August 2026, the Department of Legal Affairs issued fresh guidelines governing the empanelment of advocates as Panel Counsel for the Union of India before the Supreme Court, High Courts, District and Subordinate Courts, Tribunals and other forums.

The guidelines introduce a structured framework for the appointment of Government counsel, making qualification in the All-India Bar Examination (AIBE) and possession of a valid Certificate of Practice (CoP) mandatory for empanelment.

The framework lays down eligibility criteria, court-wise experience requirements, application procedures, tenure, grounds for disqualification and de-empanelment, and other obligations of empanelled advocates representing the Central Government.

The guidelines take immediate effect, while existing empanelments will continue until the expiry of their respective tenure.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Department of Legal Affairs represents the Union of India before courts and tribunals and, for this purpose, empanels advocates as Panel Counsel, generally for a period of three years.

2. Advocates seeking empanelment must satisfy the following eligibility requirements:

   • Possess a law degree from a Bar Council of India (BCI)-recognised institution.

   • Be enrolled with the concerned State Bar Council in accordance with the Advocates Act, 1961.

   • Have qualified the All India Bar Examination (AIBE).

   • Hold a valid Certificate of Practice (CoP).

3. Empanelment and selection will be based on the following criteria:

   • Applications must be submitted in the prescribed format to the Department of Legal Affairs.

   • Incomplete applications or those not meeting eligibility requirements may be rejected during scrutiny.

   • Prescribed minimum experience requirements must be met for the relevant court, tribunal or panel category.

   • Advocates with expertise in specialised laws such as Income Tax, Customs, GST and PMLA may be considered for specialised panels.

   • Advocates with 10 years’ legal experience in Government service may be considered based on their area of expertise.

   • Professional performance, conduct and integrity will also be considered.

4. Application forms must be supported by educational, enrolment and professional credentials, along with the prescribed undertakings and declarations.

5. Advocates disqualified under Section 24A of the Advocates Act, 1961, professionally disqualified by a BCI, or found to have acted against the interests of the Union of India will not be eligible for empanelment.

6. Empanelment will ordinarily be for a period of three years and will be subject to annual performance review.

7. Empanelled advocates will be paid professional fees for litigation assigned to them in accordance with the approved fee structure.

8. Advocates may be de-empanelled for

   • Misconduct

   • Violation of Government instructions

   • Contempt of court

   • Misappropriation of funds

   • Criminal conviction

9. Empanelled advocates may resign by giving one month’s notice and must ensure proper handover of all files, records and pending matters. Following resignation, or upon expiry, termination, or non-renewal of empanelment, the advocate must ensure the orderly handover of all pending matters within 15 days from the date of commencement of the notice period, or from the date of expiry, termination, or non-renewal, as applicable.

10. An empanelled advocate cannot assign or transfer any Government brief or case to another advocate without prior approval and must maintain strict confidentiality of all official records and legal matters.

11. Empanelled advocates must comply with all guidelines issued by the Department of Legal Affairs and adhere to all terms and conditions of empanelment.

12. The guidelines prescribe different minimum experience requirements for empanelment before various courts, tribunals and forums, ranging from 2 years for certain junior positions to 15 years for specialised assignments.

Minimum Experience Requirements for Empanelment as Panel Counsel

*Includes Allahabad, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gauhati, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Ladakh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa, Patna, Punjab & Haryana, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura and Uttarakhand High Courts.

Applications may be submitted in the prescribed format by email at panelcounsel-dla@gov.in, addressed to the Deputy Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice.

[Guidelines for Empanelment of Advocates as Panel Counsel for the Union of India, dated 20-08-2026]