The Supreme Court has reserved its judgment on petitions to "fine-tune" a 2017 verdict which laid down guidelines for designation of lawyers as senior advocates.
Constitutional courts bestow 'senior advocate' status to lawyers as a recognition of their distinct ability in or specialised knowledge of law. This designation is however is not constitutional. It has been provided in Senior Advocates Act, 1961
Senior Advocates Act, 1961
- The Act provides that there shall be two classes of advocates, namely, senior advocates and other advocates. An advocate may, with his consent, be designated as senior advocate if the Supreme Court or a High Court is of opinion that by virtue of his ability, standing at the Bar or special knowledge or experience in law, he is deserving of such distinction.
- Senior advocates shall, in the matter of their practice, be subject to such restrictions as the Bar Council of India may, in the interest of legal profession, prescribe. An advocate of the Supreme Court Who was a senior advocate of that Court immediately before the appointed day shall, for this purpose be deemed to be a senior advocate.
Later on in an important judgement of High Court of Delhi Designation of Senior Advocate Rules, 2018, Supreme court laid down detailed guidelines for the selection of lawyers for such designations.