The Supreme Court has announced that senior advocates will not be permitted to seek urgent listing of matters or argue cases during the court’s summer vacation session.
The court’s summer vacation runs from June 1 to July 12, but vacation benches will continue to hear cases. As per the schedule, three to four benches are expected to function each week during the break.
On the first day of the vacation sitting, a senior advocate attempted to argue before a bench led by Justice Vikram Nath, along with Justice P.B. Varale. The bench stopped the appearance and said only junior advocates would be allowed to argue, and that the court would hear only their submissions.
When the senior advocate sought permission to argue for the day citing lack of awareness of the new direction, the bench allowed it for that day and clarified that from the next day onward, no senior advocate should appear to argue. Senior advocates may, however, provide necessary assistance to junior counsel.
The court also indicated that matters requiring senior advocates will not be dismissed; instead, they will be listed for hearing after the vacation when regular court functioning resumes. A vacation bench headed by Justice Sanjay Karol has issued a similar direction, with the move aimed at encouraging junior advocates.
