The Delhi High Court has notified a new framework for designating advocates as Senior Advocates, replacing the rules issued in March 2024. The High Court of Delhi Designation of Senior Advocate Rules, 2026 were notified through Notification No. 88/Rules/DHC dated September 3, 2026. The notification substitutes the existing Part L of Chapter 6-L, Volume V of the High Court Rules and Orders.
The notification was issued under Section 7 of the Delhi High Court Act, 1966 and Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961. The official Delhi High Court website also lists Notification No. 88/Rules/DHC concerning the new Senior Advocate designation framework.
Under the new rules, a Permanent Secretariat headed by an officer of the rank of Registrar will coordinate the designation process. It must initiate the process at least once every year by inviting applications, with the notice published on the High Court website and information also given to the Delhi High Court Bar Association.
Applicants must be given at least 21 days to submit their applications.
An advocate must ordinarily have at least 10 years of practice, be enrolled with a Bar Council, mainly practise before the High Court, trial or district courts or specialised tribunals, and be at least 40 years old. The Full Court may relax the age requirement. Former Delhi Higher Judicial Service officers are subject to a separate relaxation concerning the minimum practice requirement.
The rules permit the Full Court to consider an advocate either on its own initiative, subject to consent, or on an application made by the advocate.
After applications are received, the Permanent Secretariat will publish the applicants' names and invite suggestions and views from stakeholders for four weeks. For advocates practising before specialised tribunals and trial or district courts, views may also be sought from tribunal chairpersons and Principal District and Sessions Judges.
The Full Court may consider fairness in court, respectful behaviour, courtroom decorum, professional ethics, mentoring of junior advocates, pro bono work and standing in the legal fraternity. The rules state:
“He/she always acts first as an officer of the Court and, thereafter, a mouthpiece of his/her client.”
The Full Court is not required to record reasons for its decision. It will endeavour to decide matters by consensus; where consensus is not reached, voting may be used, with a two-thirds majority of judges who have voted required for the decision.
An advocate whose proposal is not favourably considered will remain ineligible for consideration for two years, after which the matter may be reviewed or reconsidered under the prescribed procedure. The Full Court may also recall an existing Senior Advocate designation after giving the concerned advocate an opportunity of hearing.
The 2024 rules are expressly repealed, although actions already taken under them are not invalidated merely because of the repeal.
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