In a significant development on Monday, the Bombay High Court announced the designation of thirteen lawyers, including two women, to the status of Senior Advocates. This honour is bestowed in accordance with Section 16 (2) of the Advocates Act of 1961 and the rules formulated by the High Court.
The newly designated Senior Advocates encompass a diverse group of legal professionals, reflecting a breadth of expertise and contributions to the field of law. The individuals honoured are:
- Rajiolochan Bhalchandra Puranik
- Prakash D. Shah
- Vijay Dinkarrao Patil
- Sunip Kumar Sen
- Satish Laxmanrao Maneshinde
- Nandkumar Bhagwanrao Khandare
- Dinesh Sharad Purandare
- Sudesh Manohar Usgaonkar
- Sanjeev Prataprao Kadam
- Deepa Prashant Chawan
- Manjari Dhanesh Shah
- Pranav Pradyumna Badheka
- Kirtidev Girish Munshi
The designation of Senior Advocate is a recognition of the lawyer’s standing at the Bar, their special knowledge, or experience in law. The selection process involves rigorous scrutiny of the candidates’ contributions to legal education, legal scholarship, pro bono work, and their personal integrity.
This recent round of designations follows a session in August 2024 where 28 lawyers were similarly honoured, indicating a consistent effort by the judiciary to recognise and promote excellence within the legal community. The ceremony to formally confer these titles will be held next month, marking a ceremonious recognition of this prestigious accolade.
