Part III—Section 2

Statutory Notifications and Orders issued by

Heads of Departments.

NOTIFICATIONS BY HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS, ETC.

III-2 Ex. (321)

[ 1 ]

TAMIL NADU

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE

EXTRAORDINARY

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

[Regd. No. TN/CCN/467/2012-14.

GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

[R. Dis. No. 197/2009.

2026

[Price: Rs. 4.80 Paise.

No. 321]

CHENNAI, THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

Aadi 7, Parabhava, Thiruvalluvar Aandu-2057

JUDICIAL NOTIFICATION

RULES FOR DESIGNATION OF SENIOR ADVOCATES BY THE HIGH COURT OF

MADRAS, 2026

(R.O.C.No.53960-A/2022/SSA)

No. SRO C-21(a)/2026.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 34 (1) read with Section 16 (2) of the Advocates Act, 1961, the

High Court of Judicature at Madras, hereby makes the following Rules:

RULES FOR DESIGNATION OF SENIOR ADVOCATES BY THE HIGH COURT AT MADRAS, 2026

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 34(1) read with Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961, the

High Court of Judicature at Madras, hereby makes the following Rules:-

PART 1 | GENERAL

Preamble and Commencement: These Rules shall be called “Rules for Designation of Senior

Advocates by the High Court of Madras, 2026”. The Rules shall apply on and from the date of their

publication in the Official Gazette.

Definitions:

The following terms shall, wherever used in the capitalized form in these rules, have the meanings

ascribed to them hereinbelow, with such grammatical extrapolations as the context may require.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

“Full Court”

means the full court of the Madras High Court, acting on its

administrative side.

“Other Stakeholders”

means either an actively practising advocate, or the Bar Council,

and any relevant bar association of a court, and in cases covered

by Rule 10(ii), the entities mentioned in Note 2 thereto.

“Permanent Committee”

means the committee established under Rule 4 herein

“Permanent Secretariat” or “Secretariat” means the secretariat established under Rule 6 herein.

General: All matters relating to the designation of Senior Advocates in the High Court shall be dealt

with by a Permanent Committee to be known as “Permanent Committee for Designation of Senior

Advocates”.

Constitution of the Permanent Committee: The Permanent Committee for Designation of Senior

Advocates shall consist of:

(a)

The Chief Justice

Chairperson

(b)

Two senior-most Judges of

the High Court

Members

The Committee shall meet whenever exigencies require.

Establishment of the Secretariat: The Permanent Committee shall have a Permanent Secretariat.

The composition of the Secretariat will be decided by the Chief Justice in consultation with the

members of the Committee.

The Secretariat of the Permanent Committee shall initiate the process for designation of Senior

Advocate at least once every year by inviting applications from Advocates for designation as Senior

Advocates.

PART 2 | APPLICATION PROCESS

The Notice inviting applications from Advocates shall be published on the official website of the

High Court.

At least twenty-one days’ time shall be given to applicants to submit their applications online (as per

Annexure-‘A’) or in the manner as directed by the Permanent Committee at the relevant time.

10. The conditions on which Advocates shall be eligible for designation as Senior Advocates are:

(i)

At least

(a)

Ten years’ standing as an Advocate; or

(b)

ten years’ combined standing as an Advocate and as a District and Sessions Judge or

as a Judicial Member of any Tribunal in India, whose qualification for eligibility for such

appointment is not less than that prescribed for appointment as a District Judge.

(ii)

Practise mainly in the High Court, or in a District Court.

Note 1: Applicant-advocates having domain expertise of practicing before specialized

Tribunals may be given concession with regard to the extent of appearances in the

High Court.

Note 2: Where advocates practising before the District Courts apply for designation, the

Permanent Committee may instruct the Permanent Secretariat to solicit the views of the

concerned District Judge, and the concerned bar association of that district court, as to their

views on the said application.

(iii)

Attainment of the age of 45 years, unless the age limit is relaxed by the Full Court.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(iv)

The application of the applicant-Advocate to designate him/her as a Senior Advocate has

not been rejected by the Madras High Court, the Supreme Court of India or any other

High Court, within a period of two years, or the said application has not been deferred by

any Court within a period of one year, immediately preceding the date of notice inviting

applications from the Advocates.

11. On receipt of applications from Advocates, the Secretariat will compile relevant data and information

with regard to the reputation, conduct and integrity of the advocate(s) concerned including the

information/data furnished by concerned Advocate(s) in the prescribed format. Information may

also be collected by the Secretariat from such source(s), as may be decided by the Permanent

Committee.

12. The Secretariat will publish the proposals received for designation on the official website of the High

Court and invite suggestions/ views of Other Stakeholders on the proposals for designation.

13. Subject to Note 2 to Rule 10(ii), at least fifteen days’ time shall be given to Other Stakeholders to give

their suggestions/views on the proposed designation.

14. Once compilation of the database and such additional information as is collected pursuant to the

directions of the Permanent Committee is complete, the Permanent Secretariat shall place the entire

dossier before the Permanent Committee. Upon the Permanent Committee being satisfied that the

dossier is complete, the Permanent Secretariat shall put up the proposals with the entire set of

materials in the dossier, before the Full Court.

PART 3 | CONSIDERATION BY THE FULL COURT

15. The Full Court will examine each application in the light of the data provided by the Secretariat and

make its overall assessment on the basis of ability, standing at the Bar or special knowledge or

experience in law of the candidates, considering the following:

Ability: It will include very sound knowledge of law and especially the branches of law in which the

Advocate is practising. The ability will also include, apart from sound knowledge of law, skills of

advocacy, which are required to effectively conduct a case. Writing articles and commentaries on law

will be part of ability. Capacity to rationally critique judicial decisions will be a facet of ability.

Standing at the Bar: Some of the qualities which give an advocate a standing at the Bar are as

follows:

(a) He / She is always fair while conducting cases before the Courts.

(b) His / Her behaviour with the Judges and other members of the Bar is respectful.

(d) He / She always acts first as an officer of the Court and, thereafter, a mouthpiece of his/her

client.

(e) He / She follows the highest standards of professional etiquette and ethics.

(f)

He / She acts as a mentor to the junior advocates.

(g) He / She does pro bono work.

(h) He / She carries respect in the legal fraternity.

(i)

He / She does possess honesty and integrity.

The above list is only illustrative in nature, and not exhaustive.

Special Knowledge of Law: An Advocate may be said to be having special knowledge or experience

in law if in a particular branch of law, he has acquired expertise; for example, Civil or Criminal Trial

work, Arbitration, Insolvency and Bankruptcy, Company Law, Intellectual Property Law, Tax Laws

etc.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

No criminal antecedents: An Advocate has not been convicted by a competent court of law and

should not have been punished for an offence involving moral turpitude or contempt of court or

should not have been punished by any State Bar Council / Bar Council of India for any act of

misconduct.

16. The applications of all candidates found to be eligible by the Permanent Secretariat along with

relevant documents submitted by them shall be placed before the Full Court.

17. Even if an Advocate deserving of a designation does not apply for designation, on the basis of

the discussion, the Full Court may recommend his / her designation de hors an application in a

deserving case, subject to his / her consent.

18. The decision-making on designation of Advocates will be by consensus. However, if that is not

possible, the decision will be made on the basis of majority view.

19. Voting may be either by show of hands or by secret ballot. The Full Court will record the reasons for

resorting to the chosen manner of voting.

20. All cases which are not favourably considered by the Full Court may be reviewed / reconsidered

after the expiry of two years from the date of the decision of the Full Court by following the procedure

applicable at that time.

21. All cases deferred by the Full Court for being designated as Senior Advocate shall not be considered

until the expiry of one year from the date of the decision of the Full Court.

22. The final decision of the Full Court will be communicated individually to all the applicants.

PART 4 | POST DECISION PROCESS

23. After designation as a Senior Advocate, the person concerned is expected to adhere to the provisions

of the Advocates Act in all regards, scrupulously, and must not breach the same, directly or indirectly.

24. The Full Court may review its decision to designate a person as a Senior Advocate and recall the

conferment of designation if the Advocate is found guilty of conduct which according to the Full Court

disentitles him to designation. The Full Court would give an opportunity of a hearing before any such

action is taken.

PART 5 | RESIDUARY

25. Removal of Difficulties: All questions relating to interpretation and / or application of these Rules

shall be referred to the Permanent Committee whose decision shall be final. The Permanent

Committee may issue directions for the removal of difficulties either in general terms or in a particular

instance as the exigencies may require.

26. Repeals and Savings: The existing norms of the Madras High Court for designating an Advocate

as a Senior Advocate, including the 2020 Rules, are hereby repealed. However, this repeal shall

not invalidate the previous actions taken under the same. All pending applications, proposals or

recommendations for designation shall be returned to the Advocate concerned for applying afresh in

accordance with these Rules.

*****

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

Annexure-‘A’

APPLICATION-CUM-CONSENT

LETTER FOR DESIGNATION OF SENIOR ADVOCATE

[FOR ADVOCATES]

Recent Passport Size Colour Photograph:

The upload photo size must be 20 to 200 KB in jpg/jpeg.

Name of the Applicant-Advocate:

(Dr./Mr./Ms./Mrs.)

Date of Birth:

Age(as on 01.01.2026):

Years:

Months:

Address in Full:

(i)

Office:

(ii)

Residence:

Contact Details:

(i)

Landline:

(ii)

Mobile:

(iii) Email:

Educational / Professional

Qualifications:

(i) Date, Month and Year of

Enrolment as an Advocate:

(ii) (ii) Enrolment Number:

(iii) Bar Council, where

registered (Copy of

Enrolment Certificate

to be attached):

(The upload file size must be less than 5MB in PDF)

(iv) Number of years of practice

from the date of enrolment:

Years:

Months:

(v) Net Professional Income per

annum (in Lakhs of Rs):

[Only earnings through

practice as Advocate]

Whether the applicant is a

member of any bar association

attached to a specific court

(eg. Madras High Court Advocates

Association, Madurai High Court

Advocates Association, or any

district bar association)

□

Yes

□

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

Number of Reported Judgments

(excluding orders that do not

lay down any principle of law):

Format L-1

No. of Reported Judgments

that the Advocate actually

argued:

Upload Format L-1

(The upload file size must be

less than 5 MB in PDF)

Supreme Court

High Court

District Court/ Labour

Court and Tribunals

10.

Number of Unreported

Judgments (excluding orders

that do not lay down any

principle of law): Format L-2

No. of Unreported Judgments

that the Advocate actually

argued:

Upload Format L-2

(The upload file size must be

less than 5 MB in PDF)

Supreme Court

High Court

District Court/ Labour

Court and Tribunals

11.

Pro Bono /Amicus Curiae work:

Format L-3(i)

FormatL-3(ii)

Total Pro Bono cases:

Upload Format L-3(i)

(The upload file size must be

less than 5 MB in PDF)

Total Amicus Curiae cases:

Upload Format L-3(ii)

(The upload file size must be

less than 5 MB in PDF)

12.

Whether the applicant is a first-

generation lawyer:

□

Yes

□

13.

A c a d e m i c A r t i c l e s / B o o k s

published, experience of Teaching

Assignments in the field of law,

Guest Lectures delivered in law

schools or professional institutions

connected with law:

Format L-4

No. of Academic Articles:

No. of Teaching Assignments:

Upload Format L-4

(The upload file size must be

less than 5 MB in PDF)

No. of Academic Books:___

No. of Guest Lectures:___

14.

Courts, where the applicant is

practicing/has practiced:

(Court-wise period may be

indicated)

Court

From

Supreme Court of India

High Court(s)/District/Trial Court(s)

15.

Tribunals, where the applicant has

specialized practice:

(Applicable to those practising

before Tribunals)

Tribunal(s)

From

16.

Nature of practice– (e.g. Civil,

Criminal, Constitutional, Taxation,

Labour, Company, Service, etc.):

17.

Field of Law – domain expertise

(such as, Constitutional law, Inter-

State Water Disputes, Criminal

law, Arbitration law, Corporate law,

Family law, Human Rights, Public

Interest Litigation, International law,

law relating to women) in which

the applicant has specialization /

expertise:

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

18.

Whether the applicant has applied

earlier to the Madras High Court

for designation; if so, date of the

application & current status thereof:

□ Yes

□ No

19.

Whether the applicant has applied

earlier to the Supreme Court, or

any other High Court; if so, date of

the application and details thereof:

□ Yes

□ No

20.

Whether any FIR has ever been

lodged against the applicant; if

so, details thereof:

□ Yes

□ No

21.

Whether the applicant is a party

to any criminal case; if so, details

thereof:

□ Yes

□ No

22.

Whether any proceedings were

initiated or are pending against

the applicant before Bar Council

of India or State Bar Council; if

so, details thereof:

□ Yes

□ No

23.

General State of Health:

24.

Any other relevant information:

DECLARATION

I ___________________ hereby give consent for being designated as Senior Advocate.

I hereby declare that the information furnished above is true and correct to the best of my knowledge

and belief. No material information is concealed or suppressed there from. I understand that furnishing

of false information or suppression of any factual information would render me unfit from being

designated as Senior Advocate.

I undertake that if my application is accepted, I will strictly adhere to the code of conduct applicable

under the Advocates Act and Bar Council Act, as well as these Rules, and shall not do any act

which directly or indirectly violates any of the above, either in letter or in spirit.

Date:-

Signature of the Applicant-Advocate

(The uploaded signature size must

be 10 to 20 KB in jpg/jpeg.)

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

PRESCRIBED FORMATS

Format L-1

(See Sl.No.9 of the Application)

AS ARGUING COUNSEL

LIST OF REPORTED JUDGMENTS (EXCLUDING ORDERS NOT LAYING DOWN ANY PRINCIPLE OF LAW)

In matters before Madras High Court

S.No.

Citation / Case

Number

Cause Title and

Subject Matter

Decided on

Legal formulation advanced

by the applicant.

In matters before Supreme Court and other High Courts

S.No.

Court(s)

Citation / Case

Number

Cause Title

and Subject

Matter

Decided on

Legal formulation advanced by

the applicant.

In matters before District Courts / Labour Courts or Tribunals

S.No.

Court /

Tribunal(s)

Citation / Case

Number

Cause Title

and Subject

Matter

Decided on

Legal formulation advanced by

the applicant.

Format L-2

(See Sl. No.10 of the Application)

AS ARGUING COUNSEL

LIST OF UNREPORTED JUDGMENTS (EXCLUDING ORDERS NOT LAYING DOWN ANY PRINCIPLE OF LAW)

In matters before Madras High Court

S.No.

Citation / Case

Number

Cause Title

and Subject

Matter

Decided on

Legal formulation advanced by the applicant.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

In matters before Supreme Court and other High Courts

S.No.

Court(s)

Citation / Case

Number

Cause Title

and Subject

Matter

Decided on

Legal formulation advanced by

the applicant.

In matters before District Courts / Labour Courts and Tribunals

S.No.

Court /

Tribunal(s)

Citation / Case

Number

Cause Title

and Subject

Matter

Decided on

Legal formulation advanced by

the applicant.

Format L-3(i)

(See Sl.No.11 of the Application)

List of matters in which appeared as Pro-Bono

S.No.

Court(s) /

Tribunal(s)

Citation / Case Number

Cause Title

Decided on

Describe manner

in which society

was sought to be

benefited by the

litigation

Format L-3(ii)

(See Sl.No.11 of the Application)

List of matters in which appeared as Amicus Curiae

S.No.

Court(s)/

Tribunal(s)

Citation/ case Number

Cause Title

Decided on

Reportable /

Unreportable

Format L-4

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

(See Sl.No.13 of the Application)

Details of academic articles/books published, experience of teaching assignments in the field of law,

guest lectures delivered in law schools or professional institutions connected with law.

S.No.

Topic of published

academic

Experience details in law schools or

professional institutions (with names)

connected with law

Any other

relevant details

Articles

Books

Teaching

Assignment(s)

Guest Lectures

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

INSTRUCTIONS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE ADVOCATES WHILE APPLYING FOR

DESIGNATION OF SENIOR ADVOCATE

Advocates are requested to scrupulously follow these instructions while submitting the

Application and the prescribed Formats (L-1 to L-4).

At the time of submission of the Application online, the following should be kept ready:

(i)

Data/ Information that is to be furnished in formats L-1 to L-4;

(ii)

Scanned signature of the applicant;

(iii)

Recent scanned passport size colour photograph; and

(iv) Scanned Enrolment Certificate.

In addition to the Application submitted online, the following should be submitted in the

Permanent Secretariat:

(i) One print-out of the Application along with its attachments in the shape of a Paper

Book, duly tagged & indexed.

(ii) One recent passport size colour photograph(name of the applicant should be written on

its backside).

Data/Information relating to reported and unreported judgments in matters argued as lead

arguing/assisting counsel, pro bono /amicus curiae, publication work (articles/ books/teaching

assignments/guest lectures) should be provided in the prescribed formats L-1 to L-4 which

form part of Application.

List of citations of reported and unreported judgments in matters argued as lead counsel

should be furnished in chronological order. The citations should be of judgments made

reportable by the Supreme Court/High Courts/ Tribunals and are available in their official

reports.

Name of the applicant should tally with his/her name as mentioned in his/her enrolment

certificate. Abbreviated name shall NOT be accepted.

Request to accept application beyond the last date indicated in the notice, shall NOT be

entertained in any case.

Yes, I have read the instructions carefully and understand that an error in this application

cannot be subsequently rectified and may result in rejection of my application.

High Court, Madras,

DEEPTHI ARIVUNITHI,

22nd July, 2026.

Registrar General.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF STATIONERY AND PRINTING, CHENNAI

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU