The Supreme Court of India has notified the “Guidelines for Designation of Senior Advocates by the Supreme Court of India, 2026,” replacing the previous 2023 guidelines. The notification, dated February 11, 2026, comes in the wake of the decision of the Apex Court in Jitender @ Kalla vs. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi) and Anr. (2025 INSC 667).
The new guidelines were approved during a Full Court Meeting held on February 10, 2026, by the Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme Court.
Permanent Committee for Designation
Under the 2026 Guidelines, all matters relating to the designation of Senior Advocates will be dealt with by a Permanent Committee known as the “Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates.”
Composition of the Committee:
- Chairperson: Chief Justice of India
- Members: Two senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court of India
The Committee is mandated to meet whenever exigencies require and will have a Permanent Secretariat to initiate the designation process at least once every year.
Eligibility Criteria
The Guidelines outline specific eligibility requirements for Advocates seeking designation:
- Standing: A minimum of 10 years of standing as an Advocate, or 10 years combined standing as an Advocate and a District and Sessions Judge or Judicial Member of a Tribunal (with qualifications equivalent to a District Judge).
- Practice: The candidate must practice mainly in the Supreme Court. However, the guidelines note that applicants with domain expertise practicing before specialized Tribunals may be granted a concession regarding the extent of their appearances in the Supreme Court.
- Age: The applicant must have attained the age of 45 years, unless this limit is relaxed by the Full Court.
- Prior Applications: The applicant’s previous application for designation must not have been rejected by the Supreme Court or any High Court within the preceding two years, or deferred within the preceding one year.
The Designation Process
The Secretariat will publish a notice inviting applications on the official Supreme Court website, with intimations sent to the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association. Applicants will be given at least 21 days to submit their applications online.
Following the receipt of applications, the Secretariat will compile relevant data on the reputation, conduct, and integrity of the candidates. This proposal will then be published on the Supreme Court website to invite suggestions and views from other stakeholders, for which a period of at least 15 days will be provided.
Assessment Criteria by the Full Court
The Full Court will examine each application based on the data provided and make an overall assessment of the candidate’s “ability, standing at the Bar, or special knowledge or experience in law.” The Guidelines specify the following parameters for this assessment:
- Ability: This includes sound knowledge of law, advocacy skills, writing articles and commentaries, and the capacity to rationally critique judicial decisions.
- Standing at the Bar: The Court will evaluate qualities such as fairness in conducting cases, respectful behavior towards Judges and the Bar, maintaining decorum, acting primarily as an officer of the Court, adherence to professional ethics, mentorship of junior advocates, pro bono work, and general reputation of honesty and integrity.
- Special Knowledge: Expertise in specific branches of law such as Arbitration, Insolvency and Bankruptcy, Company Law, Intellectual Property Law, Tax Laws, etc.
- No Criminal Antecedents: The candidate must not have been convicted by a competent court, punished for offences involving moral turpitude or contempt of court, or punished for misconduct by any Bar Council.
Voting and Decision Making
The Guidelines emphasize that decision-making regarding designation “will be by consensus.” If consensus is not possible, the decision will be made by a majority view. The rules state that “Voting by secret ballot will be resorted to in an exceptional situation, for reasons to be recorded.”
Other Key Provisions
- Former Judges: Former Chief Justices and Judges of High Courts may submit letters of request for designation. However, those holding any full-time assignment will not be considered as long as they hold that assignment.
- Suo Motu Designation: The Full Court retains the power to recommend the designation of a deserving Advocate de hors (without) an application, subject to their consent.
- Review and Recall: The Full Court may review its decision and recall the designation if the Senior Advocate is found guilty of conduct that disentitles them to the designation, after providing an opportunity for a hearing.
- Deferred/Rejected Cases: Candidates whose cases are not favorably considered must wait two years to reapply, while those whose cases are deferred must wait one year.
