The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the recent designation of 70 lawyers as Senior Advocates by the Delhi High Court, rejecting claims of nepotism. The petition, filed by advocate Mathews Nedumpara, alleged favoritism in the selection process, citing connections between some appointees and members of the judiciary.
Justices BR Gavai and K Vinod Chandran presided over the case and emphasized that the court maintains a consistent standard in its treatment of lawyers, regardless of their designation status. The bench highlighted that allegations of differential treatment based on familial connections do not hold merit in judicial proceedings.
During the hearings, the court had confronted Nedumpara regarding his accusations, challenging him to substantiate his claims with specific examples of nepotism. In response, Nedumpara presented a chart detailing relations of Supreme Court judges who are either also judges or prominent lawyers, suggesting a pattern of bias in these designations.
Despite these arguments, the Supreme Court found no substantial evidence to support the allegations of nepotism and subsequently dismissed the plea. The controversy surrounding the designation of Senior Advocates at the Delhi High Court had already been stirred by internal dissent within the selection committee. Senior Advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, representing the Delhi government, had objected to the final list, claiming it was finalized without his approval due to his absence during critical deliberations.
