Context: 

Chief Justice of India and Judges of the Supreme Court in a Full Court meeting  designates 56 lawyers as ‘senior advocates’.

Supreme Court Designates 11 Women Lawyers As Senior Advocate

• Eleven of the advocates-on-record and advocates designated senior advocates by the Supreme Court are women.
• The designation comes after a gap of four years and is the first time after the Supreme Court modified its guidelines for ‘senior advocate’ designation in its judgment in 2023 to make the process transparent and fair.

Senior Advocate of Supreme Court and High Courts

• Mentioned in: Section 16 of the Advocates Act refers to the separate class of lawyers ie.  ‘senior advocate’.
• Designation Authority: They can be designated by both the Supreme Court and High Courts.
  • In Supreme Court:  ‘Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates’ is a permanent committee which is entrusted with the function of designating  senior advocates. It comprise of: 
    • Chairperson: Chief Justice of India.
    • Members: Two senior-most Judges of the  Supreme Court of India, Attorney General for India, A member of the Bar nominated by the Chairperson and Members.
• Criteria: Merit, experience, special knowledge of the law and standing at the Bar.
• Eligibility: 
  • Ten years’ standing as an Advocate; or 
  • Ten years combined standing as an Advocate and as a District and Sessions Judge or as a Judicial Member of any Tribunal in India.
  • Attainment of the age of 45 years, unless the age limit is relaxed by the Committee, or the name has been recommended by the Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court.
• Advantage: As per Section 23 of the Advocate  Act, senior advocates shall have right of pre-audience over other lawyers and their right of pre-audience inter se shall be determined by their respective seniority.

News Source: The Hindu