In an unprecedented internal move, the Supreme Court has signaled serious disapproval of Senior Advocate Rishi Malhotra’s recent conduct, issuing a show-cause notice that could strip him of his senior advocate designation.
The full court—convened under the leadership of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna—met on March 12, with sources confirming that Malhotra’s alleged “sharp practices” dominated the discussion. The trigger? A judgment authored by Justice Abhay S Oka that didn’t mince words when it came to Malhotra’s courtroom conduct and its wider implications for the designation process of senior advocates.
That ruling, delivered on February 20, not only spotlighted Malhotra’s behavior but also called into question the larger system of how senior advocates are chosen, recommending that the matter be examined by a larger bench under the CJI’s watch.
The controversy around Malhotra has been brewing for months. He was elevated to senior advocate status in August 2024, but by September, storm clouds had gathered. An advocate-on-record, formerly his chamber junior, informed the Court that an appeal had been filed under his name at Malhotra’s behest—without disclosing key facts central to the case.
The fallout was immediate. The Court noticed the omission in an appeal seeking remission of a convict’s sentence and demanded an explanation. The AoR, Jaydip Pati, responded with an affidavit, stating he signed off on the filing out of deference and trust, given his past working relationship with Malhotra. He maintained that he never suspected any bad faith on Malhotra’s part but emphasized the power imbalance between a junior and a senior in such professional arrangements.
Then came December. Another red flag. A bench led by Justice Oka took strong exception to allegations that Malhotra had not informed a client about the status of their case despite being paid, raising even more ethical concerns.
Now, with the full court stepping in, Malhotra’s professional standing hangs in the balance. As of now, he has not responded to attempts to reach him for comment.