The Supreme Court has raised concerns about the process of designating Senior Advocates, referring the matter to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna for possible review by a larger bench. A Division Bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan examined whether the existing legal framework and procedural guidelines—established in 2017 and 2023—require reconsideration.
While emphasizing that no disrespect was intended toward previous rulings in Indira Jaising v. Supreme Court of India (2017 and 2023), the Bench pointed out issues in the current selection system. It particularly questioned whether the interview process effectively assesses a lawyer’s suitability for the designation.
The Court reaffirmed that the title of Senior Advocate is not a right but a privilege conferred by the judiciary, with the lawyer’s consent. The discussion emerged during deliberations in Jitender v. State (NCT of Delhi), prompting the judges to suggest that the matter warrants deeper examination at the highest level.