Gujarat High Court has designated Navin Pahwa as Senior Advocate.

Pahwa confirmed the same to Bar & Bench.

Pahwa is a graduate of Delhi University. He enrolled at the Bar in the year 1993. He was a Partner at the law firm, Thakkar Associates which later became Thakkar & Pahwa Advocates. Pahwa is also a qualified Company Secretary.

Interestingly, the designation of Pahwa has come at a time when the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association (GHCAA) has sought abolition of the institution of Senior Advocate.

In the petition filed by Senior Advocate Indira Jaising in Supreme Court challenging the current process of Senior designations, the GHCAA had assailed Section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961 which classifies advocates into Senior Advocates and other advocates. It was the contention of the GHCAA that the said provision is violative of Articles 14 and 18 of the Constitution.

When asked about his views on the said issue, Pahwa refused to comment:

“Since the matter is sub-judice, I would refrain from commenting on the matter”.

In April this year, Gujarat High Court had designated Manisha Lavkumar Shah as Senior Advocate. She was the second woman lawyer to be designated as Senior Advocate by the Gujarat High Court in its 57-year long history.