Madras High Court released new norms to designate Senior Advocates

The Madras High Court on 24 October 2013 issued certain norms to designate advocates as senior advocates. As per the issued new norms, it will be mandatory for an advocate to have a professional experience of minimum 15 years at the court, with consideration of the services rendered as judicial officer.

Along with this, the gross income of the advocate from the profession should not be less than seven lakh rupees annually for the past three years. It will be also mandatory that the advocate should be an income tax assesses for 10 years preceding the date of consideration.

The Madras High Court to designate the senior advocate should have also declared the main criteria for the same. The advocate can be designated as the senior advocate following his caliber, merit, ability and academic distinction of the advocate concerned. The court has also made it necessary for the advocate to practice in the High Courts of Madras, Madurai Bench and courts subordinate to it including Tribunals.  

The Court has also described its procedure according to which an advocate can be designated as the senior advocate. The court mentioned that their shall be select committee that comprises of ten honourable judges of High Court, preferably representing different facets of law, which would identify such of those advocates, who by their ability, conduct, standing at the bar or special knowledge or experience in law and distinction are eligible to be designated as Senior Advocates in terms of Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961. In the procedure the court has also cleared that if any advocate wants to be designated at senior advocate should furnish information in a format that has been prescribed by the court in an annexure on being invited by the high court.

The information presented by the advocate will be further verified by the Select Committee, which will recommend and forward the names to the Chief Justice for approval by the high court. The decision of the Chief Justice shall prevail, if there is no consensus in the Select Committee, while recommending name or names of advocates for designation as Senior Advocates.