Advocates will no longer be promoted by points-based system as HC brings in new rules, Pg5

Key Highlights:

• The Delhi High Court notified new rules on September 3 for the designation of senior advocates.
• The new rules abolish the previous points-based evaluation system for designating senior advocates.
• The Full Court will now decide on senior designations through consensus or a two-thirds majority vote.
• This change follows a Supreme Court verdict in May 2025 that criticized the old evaluation process.

Detailed Insights:

• The previous system involved a 100-point assessment by a Permanent Committee comprising the three senior-most judges.
• Points were allocated based on criteria such as publications, years of practice, and an interview.
• The old process faced controversy in 2024 after 302 applications were received, leading to a challenge before the Supreme Court.
• The Supreme Court observed that the 100-point assessment system "has not achieved the desired objectives".
• Under the new rules, the Permanent Committee has been replaced by a Permanent Secretariat responsible for compiling candidate information.
• The Permanent Secretariat will initiate the designation process at least once annually by inviting applications.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Senior Advocate: A special designation conferred upon experienced lawyers by High Courts or the Supreme Court based on their ability and standing.
• Full Court: Refers to all the judges of a High Court or the Supreme Court sitting together to decide on administrative or judicial matters.
• Permanent Secretariat: A newly established administrative body within the High Court tasked with gathering and compiling data for senior advocate designations.
• Supreme Court's May 2025 verdict: A significant ruling that mandated reforms in the process of designating senior advocates across High Courts.