In a landmark move to foster inclusivity and create more opportunities for younger members of the legal fraternity, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai has announced that designated senior advocates will no longer be permitted to mention matters for urgent listing before the Supreme Court. The directive, announced in open court, will come into effect from the upcoming Monday.
What Is ‘Mentioning’ and Why It Matters
The practice of “mentioning” allows advocates to request urgent listing of cases not scheduled in the court’s regular cause list. Typically carried out before the start of daily proceedings, this process plays a vital role in enabling swift judicial intervention in matters requiring immediate attention. Until now, senior advocates have been the most prominent faces during the morning mentioning hour, often appearing on behalf of clients to secure priority listings.
Chief Justice’s Rationale: Give Juniors the Spotlight
During court proceedings, CJI Gavai addressed concerns over the dominance of senior counsels in the mentioning process. Acknowledging the growing sentiment within the legal community, he remarked, “There is a great demand that no matters should be mentioned by senior counsels.”
Taking immediate action, the Chief Justice instructed the court master to issue an official notification, stating, “Notice nikaal dena — no mentioning to be allowed by senior counsels.” He later elaborated that this reform is intended to provide younger lawyers with a meaningful platform, adding, “From Monday, no senior counsels, designated senior counsels, will be allowed to mention matters. Let the juniors get an opportunity to do it.”
