The Madras High Court has received 281 applications for Senior Advocate designation under its new Rules, and has published the list of applicants inviting suggestions from advocates and bar associations.
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Chennai: A total of 281 lawyers have applied for Senior Advocate designation under the Madras High Court’s new Rules, and the High Court has published the applicant list on its website, with enrolment years ranging from the 1970s to 2015.
The process
Advocates and bar associations can submit suggestions and views on the applicants by 5:45 pm on October 27, 2026. The new Rules, notified on July 23 this year, replace the earlier points-based system, following the Supreme Court’s May 2025 judgment on designation.
The new framework
The permanent committee now consists only of the Chief Justice and the two senior-most judges, and the Advocate General and the Bar member provided for under the 2020 Rules are no longer part of it. Ordinarily a minimum of ten years’ standing and a minimum age of 45 are required, relaxable by the Full Court. Applicants must primarily practise before the High Court or a district court, with relaxations for tribunal specialists on High Court appearances.
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What will be assessed
The Rules emphasise advocacy skills, professional ethics, mentoring of juniors, pro bono work, integrity and domain expertise in judging an applicant’s ability and standing. In January 2023 the High Court designated 62 lawyers as Senior Advocates under the 2020 Rules.
Why the development matters
Designation is a mark of professional recognition and carries privileges in court. Publishing the applicant list and inviting public views is meant to make the process transparent, and the response from the Bar before the October 27 deadline will feed into the committee’s assessment.
Matter: Designation of Senior Advocates under the Madras High Court Rules, 2026
Notice published: October 6, 2026
Last date for views: October 27, 2026, 5:45 pm