GHCAA calls upon Gujarat CJ to implement SC guidelines on Designation of Senior Advocates [Read Letter]

The Gujarat High Court Advocates Association (GHCAA) has written a letter to Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy calling for the implementation of the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court with respect to designation of Senior Advocates in the case of Indira Jaising v Supreme Court of India and Others..The Association has pointed out that amendments have to be made to the High Court of Gujarat Designation of Senior Advocates Rules, 2012 post the ruling in Indira Jaising’s case..GHCAA had also filed an intervening application in the case calling for greater transparency and objectivity in the designation process. In this regard, the Association had suggested certain amendments to the 2012 rules through a representation made in 2016, which has been referenced in the letter..The letter particularly emphasizes that the Supreme Court ruling has effectively rendered invalid the Income criterion and the secret ballot election process for designating Senior Advocates under the 2012 rules..The guidelines issued by the Supreme Court require the High Courts to constitute a Permanent Committee and a Secretariat to receive and examine the applications for designations. .The Permanent Committee is to consist of the Chief Justice of the High Court, the other two senior most judges, the Advocate General of the state and one member from the Bar to be nominated by the aforementioned four dignitaries..Applications are also required to be uploaded on the website and suggestion/views of other stakeholders are to be invited. The Permanent Committee is expected to evaluate applications on the basis of the point-based format indicated in the Supreme Court’s judgment..Therefore, the Association has requested the Chief Justice,.“…to take into consideration the aforesaid judgment and guidelines prescribed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and suitably amend the High Court of Gujarat Designation of Senior Advocates Rules, 2012 and make necessary provision for constituting a Secretariat and Permanent Committee to receive and examine application for the Senior Advocates designation at the earliest and oblige.”.Read Letter below..Click here to download the Bar & Bench Android App