REGISTERED NO. PT.-40
EXTRA ORDINARY
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
27 BHADRA 1947 (S)
(NO.PATNA 1531) PATNA, THURSDAY, 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
PATNA HIGH COURT
———————
NOTIFICATION
The 18th September 2025
ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA TO
THE RULES OF THE HIGH COURT AT PATNA, 1916
C.S. No. – 180
No. 2560 (R)—The Chapter XXIV-A of the Rules of the High Court at Patna,
1916 titled “The High Court of Judicature at Patna (Designation of Senior Advocates)
Rules, 2019” as amended from time to time is hereby repealed and substituted by the
following Rules with immediate effect:-
THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA (DESIGNATION OF
SENIOR ADVOCATES) RULES, 2025
In exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 16(2) and 34(1) of the Advocates
Act, 1961 (Act No. 25 of 1961), the High Court of Judicature at Patna hereby makes the
following Rules regarding designation of an Advocate as a Senior Advocate:-
1. Short title, extent and commencement:-
(a) These Rules shall be called "The High Court of Judicature at Patna
(Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2025."
(b) These Rules shall apply to the procedure for designation of an Advocate as
a Senior Advocate by the High Court of Judicature at Patna.
(c) These Rules shall come into force with effect from the date of publication
in the official gazette.
2. Definitions:- In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires:-
2
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
(a) (i) “Advocate” means an advocate entered in the roll of the Bihar State
Bar Council under the provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961 (Act No.
25 of 1961) practising within the State of Bihar before the High Court
of Judicature at Patna, the District Court of the State of Bihar or the
Specialised Tribunals within the State of Bihar.
(ii)
“Chief Justice” means the Chief Justice or the Acting Chief Justice of
the High Court of Judicature at Patna.
(iii)
“District Court” means the Courts established within the Judgeships
of Bihar and it also includes the Sub-divisional Courts, functioning
under supervisory control of the High Court of Judicature at Patna.
(iv)
“Full Court” means Full Court of the High Court of Judicature at
Patna as prescribed under the Rules of the High Court at Patna,
1916.
(v)
"High Court" means the High Court of Judicature at Patna.
(vi)
“the Permanent Committee” means committee for Designation of
Senior Advocates of the High Court of Judicature at Patna.
(vii)
“the Permanent Secretariat of the High Court” means ‘Senior
Advocate Designation Secretariat’ of the establishment of the High
Court of Judicature at Patna.
(viii)
“Registrar General” means the Registrar General of the High Court
of Judicature at Patna.
(ix)
“the District Permanent Committee” means District Permanent
Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates of the concerned
District Court.
(x)
“the Secretariat of the District Court” means The Secretariat of the
Registrar/Court Manager of the concerned District Court.
(xi)
“Specialised Tribunals” means the tribunals established and
functioning within the precincts of the State of Bihar and under
supervisory control of
the High Court of Judicature at Patna.
(b)
Words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined under
the Advocates Act, 1961 and the Rules of the High Court at Patna,
1916 shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Act
and Rules.
3. (a) The High Court may designate an Advocate as a Senior Advocate on an
application made by the Advocate for grant of designation considering the same as
consent of the Advocate concerned, if in its opinion, by virtue of his/
her
ability,
standing at Bar or special knowledge or experience in law, the said Advocate deserves
conferment of such distinction.
(b) Additionally, the High Court may consider and confer designation to an Advocate
dehors an application in a deserving case.
4. An Advocate may be considered for being designated as a Senior
Advocate:
(a)
On his/her name (Advocate practising in High Court/ Tribunals &
District Court) being recommended by any two designated Senior
Advocates practising in the High Court, District Court, and/ or
Tribunals as the case may be.
(b)
On application made by him/her (Advocate practising in High Court/
Tribunals & District Court), duly recommended by two designated
3
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
Senior
Advocates practising in the High Court, District Court
and/or Tribunals as
the case may be.
Provided that a Senior Advocate shall not recommend more than two
applications of the Advocates from High Court/ Tribunals and
similarly not more than two applications from the District Court.
5. An Advocate shall be considered for being designated as a Senior Advocate
only if he/she has actually practised as an Advocate for not less than ten years in the
High Court/ District Court/ Tribunals.
6. (a) The Applicant Advocate practising in High Court/ Tribunals should be an
income-tax assessee for a minimum period of ten (10) years and shall submit copies of
income tax return for the preceding three financial years and the net income from
profession shall not be less than Rs. 5 lakhs per annum for said three years.
(b)
The Applicant Advocate practising in District Court should be an
income-tax assessee for a minimum period of five (05) years and shall
submit copies of income tax return for the preceding three financial
years and the average net income from profession shall not be less than
Rs. 3 lakhs per annum for said three years.
7. (a) Applications by Advocates/ Recommendation by Senior Advocates shall be
addressed to the Registrar General and shall contain the particulars set out in the proforma
in Annexure- A to these Rules, which shall be enclosed with recommendation/
application.
(b)
If the proposal for designation of an Advocate as a Senior Advocate is
made
under Rule 4 above, the particulars mentioned in the
proforma at Annexure- A shall be supplied by the Advocate
concerned.
(c)
The written consent of the Advocate concerned shall accompany the
recommendation/ application for designation as a Senior Advocate
along with a declaration by the Advocate concerned that no
recommendation/ application
to designate him/her as a Senior
Advocate has been rejected by the Supreme Court of India or the High
Court of Judicature at Patna and/or any other High Court in India,
within a period of two years immediately preceding the date of the
recommendation/ application.
(d)
Canvassing in any form shall disqualify the Advocate concerned from
being designated.
8. (a) (i) The recommendation/application for designation as a Senior Advocate
shall be processed by a Permanent Committee of the High Court known as the
"Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates".
The Permanent Committee shall consist of the Hon'ble the Chief Justice, two
senior-most Hon'ble Judges of this Court and the Learned Advocate General. The above
four Hon'ble members of the Permanent
Committee will nominate a Member of the
Bar to be the fifth Member of the Permanent Committee. The Permanent Committee will
be headed by the Hon'ble the Chief Justice.
(ii)
The Senior Advocate Designation Secretariat of the High Court
shall be the Secretariat of "the Permanent Committee" and the
Registrar General of the High Court shall be the ex-officio Secretary
of "the Permanent Committee".
(b) (i) There shall be a Permanent Committee of the concerned District Court
known as the "District Permanent Committee for Designation of
4
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
Senior Advocates" for assisting the Permanent Committee of the High
Court with regard to the applications/ recommendations of Advocates
from District Court.
The District Permanent Committee shall consist of the Principal
District & Sessions Judge, two senior-most Judges and the senior-most
Government Pleader/ Public Prosecutor of concerned District Court.
The above four Members of the District Permanent Committee will
nominate a Member of the District Bar to be the fifth Member of the
District Permanent Committee.[Subject to a prerequisite that 4th and
5th member of the District Permanent Committee i.e. senior-most
Government Pleader/ Public Prosecutor and Member from the
District Bar shall not be part of the Designation Process as an
Applicant Advocate] The District Permanent Committee will be
headed by the Principal District & Sessions Judge. The District
Permanent Committee shall meet at least once every year.
(ii)
The Secretariat of the Registrar/Court Manager of the concerned
District Court shall be the Secretariat of "the District Permanent
Committee" and the Registrar/Court Manager of the concerned Civil
Court shall be the ex-officio Secretary of "the District Permanent
Committee".
9.(a) The Permanent Secretariat of the High Court shall initiate the process of
designation of Senior Advocates at least once in every calendar year.
(b)
All applications for designation as Senior Advocates shall be
scrutinised by the Permanent Secretariat of the High Court. If an
application is found to be defective/
incomplete,
the
Permanent
Secretariat of the High Court shall grant a period of 15 days to the
applicant Advocates for rectification of the
application
form/
submission of the missing documents.
(c)
The Permanent Secretariat shall collect relevant data and information
with regard to character, conduct, honesty, reputation, and integrity of
the Advocate concerned; verify the details regarding his/her
participation in pro bono work, if any; reported judgments in which
he/she has appeared; the number of such judgments reported during
the last five years and other matters referred to in the particulars
furnished in terms of Rule 7(a) and submit a report to "the Permanent
Committee" regarding every recommendation/application submitted
for seeking designation.
(d)
In case of the Advocates practising in District Court, the Permanent
Secretariat of the High Court shall obtain the views of the District
Permanent Committee.
(e)
Similarly, in case of the Advocates practising before Tribunals, the
Permanent Secretariat of the High Court shall obtain the views of head
of the respective tribunals.
10. Thereafter, the Permanent Secretariat of the High Court shall cause a
summary of the applications for designation to be published on the official website of the
High Court of Judicature at Patna and invite suggestions/views of the members of the Bar
and other stakeholders in the matter, within 30 days from the date of publication. The
suggestions/views shall be in writing and shall bear the name and full address of the
sender
and
shall
be
addressed
to
the
Registrar
General.
Anonymous
5
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
petitions/representations will not be entertained. Subsequently, the Permanent Secretariat
of the High Court after completion of stipulated window of 30 days shall place the
summary of the applications for designation before the Permanent Committee.
11. The Permanent Committee shall examine each recommendation/application
for designation as Senior Advocate in the light of the materials on record including the
materials provided by the Secretariat of the High Court,
the Secretariat of "the District
Permanent Committee" and the suggestions/views of the members of the Bar and other
stakeholders. Thereafter, the Registrar General with the order of the Permanent
Committee shall place the same before the Hon’ble Full Court for consideration.
12. (a) The decision-making on the application/ recommendation for designation
by the Full Court, as far as possible, shall be by consensus. However, if a consensus on
designation of Advocates is not arrived at, the decision-making shall be made by a
democratic process and shall be governed by a majority of votes.
(b)
In case of voting, an application/ recommendation for designation as a
Senior Advocate shall be considered as accepted by the Full Court if
majority of the Judges present and voting, vote in favour of such
application.
(c)
Voting by secret ballot will be resorted to, only if the situation so
warrants and even in case of holding of such secret ballot, the reason
for the same shall be recorded in writing and the application/
recommendation for designation as a Senior Advocate shall be
considered as accepted by the Full Court if the Judges present and
voting (by not less than two-third majority), vote in favour of the
recommendation/application.
13. (a) A recommendation/ application for designation which is not favourably
considered by the Full Court can be considered afresh only after the expiry of a period of
two years from the date on which the recommendation/ application was not accepted by
the Full Court. After the expiry of the period, the Advocate may apply afresh in terms of
the procedure applicable on the date of the fresh application.
(b)
All cases deferred by the Full Court for designation as Senior
Advocate shall not be considered until the expiry of one year from the
date of the decision of the Full Court. After the expiry of the period,
the Advocate may apply afresh in terms of the procedure applicable on
the date of the fresh application.
14.(a) The designation of an Advocate as a Senior Advocate shall be liable to be
revoked, after due notice to him/her, in the event of the Advocate being found by the Bar
Council of India/ Bihar State Bar Council/ Bar Council of any other State that he/she has
committed professional/other misconduct or if the High Court is satisfied that he/she has
violated all
or any of the provisions of the Rules framed and issued by the High Court
of Judicature at Patna under sub-section (1) of Section 34 of the Advocates Act, 1961.
(b)
The designation shall also be liable to be revoked after due notice to
the Senior Advocate concerned, if he/she is guilty of any misconduct
which, in the opinion of the High Court, disentitles him/her to continue
to be worthy of the designation or if he/she is convicted for an offence
involving moral turpitude or for contempt of court. The proposal for
revocation of designation shall be considered as accepted by the Full
Court if two-third of the Judges present and voting, vote in favour of
such revocation.
6
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
(c)
Nothing contained in these rules shall stand in the way of an Advocate
who has been designated by the High Court of Judicature at Patna as a
Senior Advocate, from submitting an application to withdraw or recall
his/her designation as a Senior Advocate. In the event of such an
application addressed to the Registrar General being submitted, the
Registrar General shall place it before the Chief Justice for appropriate
orders thereon.
15. On the designation of an Advocate as a Senior Advocate or on the revocation
or withdrawal of such designation, the Registrar General shall notify the said fact to the
Secretary General, Supreme Court of India, Registrar General of all other High Courts,
the Bar Council of India, the Bihar State Bar Council, the Bar Council of other States in
India, all the Principal District and Sessions Judges of District Court and the Heads of the
Tribunals. The notification shall also be published on the official website of the High
Court and a copy thereof shall be communicated to the Judges of the High Court. The
final decision of the Full Court will be communicated individually to all the applicants.
16. A record of all decisions relating to designation/ revocation/ withdrawal of
designation shall be maintained by the Permanent Secretariat of the High Court.
17. Repeal and Savings:-
(a)
The High Court of Judicature at Patna (Designation of Senior
Advocates) Rules, 2019 as amended from time to time are hereby
repealed.
(b)
Notwithstanding such repeal,
(i) Anything done or any action taken or purported to have been
done or taken under the repealed rules shall, in so far as it is not
inconsistent with the provisions of these rules, be deemed to have
been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of these
rules.
(ii) Any action pending at the time of commencement of these rules
shall be continued and disposed of in accordance with the
provisions of the repealed rules.
18. All questions relating to the interpretation and/or application of these Rules
shall be referred to the Chief Justice, whose decision in consultation with the Permanent
Committee shall be final. The Chief Justice may issue directions for the removal of
difficulties either in general terms or in a particular instance as the exigencies may
require.
7
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
ANNEXURE-A
APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION AS SENIOR ADVOCATE
[FOR ADVOCATES-ON-RECORD/ ADVOCATES]
Recent Passport size
colour photograph
(original) to be pasted
here
1.
Name of the Applicant-Advocate:
(Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms.)
2.
Date of Birth
D
D
M
M
Y
Y
Y
Y
3.
(i) Since when have you been an
assessee under the Income Tax Act,
1961 (Attach income tax return of last
three financial years. )
(ii) Permanent Account Number (PAN)-
4.
Address in full:
(i) Office -
(ii) Residence -
5.
Contact Details:
(i) Landline -
(ii) Cellphone -
(iii) Email -
8
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
6.
Educational / Professional Qualifications:
7.
(i) Date, Month and Year of Enrolment as an
Advocate
(ii) Enrolment Number
(Copy of Enrolment Certificate to be
attached)
(iii) Number of years of practice from the
date of enrolment
D
D
M
M
Y
Y
Y
Y
_______ YEARS
8.
(i) Bar Council, where registered;
(ii) Whether registered as an Advocate-on-
Record. If so, date, month and year of
registration; and
(iii) AOR Code Number/ AUIN
D
D
M
M
Y
Y
Y
Y
9.
Number of reported judgments (excluding
orders that do not lay down any principle of
law) in last five years in cases in which the
applicant has appeared as-
(i) lead arguing counsel; and
(ii) assisting counsel
Lead Arguing
counsel
(Number of
Judgments only)
Assisting Counsel
(Number of
Judgments only)
10.
Number of unreported judgments (excluding
orders that do not lay down any principle of
law) in last five years in cases in which the
applicant has appeared as-
(i) lead arguing counsel; and
(ii) assisting counsel
Lead Arguing
counsel
(Number of
Judgments only)
Assisting Counsel
(Number of
Judgments only)
11.
Pro bono/ amicus curiae work during last
five years.
12.
Five synopses for evaluation
(Copies of synopses to be attached)
13.
Whether the applicant is a first generation
lawyer.
9
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
14.
Articles/books published, experience of
teaching assignments in the field of law,
guest lectures delivered in law schools or
professional institutions connected with law.
(attach supporting documents)
Academic
Articles/
Books
Teaching
Assign-
ment(s)
Guest
lectures
delivered in
law schools
or
professional
institutions
connected
with law.
15.
Whether the applicant is a member of the
High Court Bar Association / Supreme
Court Advocates-on-Record Association
16.
Courts where the applicant is practising:
(Court-wise period may be indicated)
Name of the Court
(Supreme Court of
India/High Court(s)
/District/
Lower Court(s)/
Tribunal(s) etc.)
From
To
17.
Nature of practice - e.g. Civil, Criminal,
Constitutional, Taxation, Labour, Company,
Service, etc.
19.
Field of Law-domain expertise (such as
Constitutional law, Inter-State Water
Disputes, Criminal law, Arbitration law,
Corporate law, Family law, Litigation,
Human Rights, International law, Public law
Interest relating to women) in which the
applicant has specialization / expertise.
20.
Whether the applicant had applied earlier to
10
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
the Patna High Court for designation; if so,
current status of application.
21.
Whether the applicant has applied to
Supreme Court/any other High Court; if so,
current status of application.
22.
Whether any FIR has ever been filed against
the applicant; if so, current status must be
indicated.
23.
Whether the applicant is a party to any civil,
criminal or other litigation. If so, the nature
of involvement.
(i)
Has the applicant at any point of time been:
(a)
Arrested?
(b)
Prosecuted?
(c)
Kept under detention?
(d)
Bound down?
(e)
Fined by a court of law?
(f)
Convicted by a court of law of any
offence?
(g)
Debarred from any examination or
rusticated by any authority/institution
council?
(h)
Debarred/disqualified by any public
commission/authority?
(ii) Is any case pending against the applicant in
any court of law at the time of submitting
this application?
(iii) If the answer to any of the above-mentioned
questions is 'Yes', give full particulars of the
case / arrest / detention / fine / conviction /
sentence / punishment etc. and / or the
nature of the case pending in the Court /
Authority or Institution etc., at the time of
submitting this application.
24.
Whether any proceedings were initiated or
are pending against the applicant before Bar
Council of India or State Bar Council? If so,
particulars thereof.
25.
General state of health
11
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
26.
Any other relevant information
DECLARATION
I Advocate-on-Record/ Advocate hereby give consent for being
designated as Senior Advocate.
I hereby verify that the information furnished above is true and correct to the best of my
knowledge and belief. Nothing material is concealed or suppressed therefrom. I
understand that furnishing of false information or suppression of any factual information
would render me unfit for being designated as Senior Advocate.
Date:- [ Signature of the Applicant]
12
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
PRESCRIBED FORMATS
LEAD ARGUING COUNSEL
(List of Reported Judgments (excluding orders not laying down any principle of law
in the last five years) (attach supporting documents)
Sl. No.
Court(s)
Citation/ Case
Number
Cause Title
and Subject
Matter
Decided on
Legal
formulation
advanced by
the applicant
ASSISTING COUNSEL
(List of Reported Judgments (excluding orders not laying down any principle of law
in the last five years) (attach supporting documents)
Sl. No.
Court(s)
Citation/ Case
Number
Cause Title
and Subject
Matter
Decided on
Legal
formulation
advanced by
the applicant
LEAD ARGUING COUNSEL
(List of Unreported Judgments (excluding orders not laying down any principle of
law in the last five years) ( attach supporting documents)
Sl. No.
Court(s)
Citation/ Case
Number
Cause Title
and Subject
Matter
Decided on
Legal
formulation
advanced by
the applicant
ASSISTING COUNSEL
(List of Reported Judgments (excluding orders not laying down any principle of law
in the last five years) ( attach supporting documents)
Sl. No.
Court(s)
Citation/ Case
Number
Cause Title
and Subject
Matter
Decided on
Legal
formulation
advanced by
the applicant
13
BIHAR GAZETTE (EXTRA) 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025
List of matters in which you have appeared as Pro-Bono/ Amicus Curiae in the last
five years
(attach supporting documents)
Sl. No.
Court(s)
Citation/ Case
Number
Cause Title
and Subject
Matter
Decided on
Reportable/
Unreportable
Details of five Synopses
(attach supporting documents)
Sl. No.
Court(s)
Case Number
Cause Title
Details
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.
Sl. No.
Topic of
published
academic
articles/
Books/
Lecture/
Courses
(attach
supporting
documents)
Experience
details of
teaching
assignment and
guest lectures
delivered in
law schools or
professional
institutions
connected with
law
Names of law
schools
or professional
institutions
connected with
law.
Any other
relevant details
By order of the Court,
Pradeep Kumar Malik,
Registrar General.
(X-02-2025)
Adm. (Rules) Dept.
————
PUBLISHED AND PRINTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT,
BIHAR SECRETARIAT PRESS, PATNA.
Bihar Gazette (Extra) 1531—571+100
Website: http://egazette.bihar.gov.in