🔹 Practicing Equality in Our Constitutional Courts: A Call for Reform

In India’s legal system, the classification of advocates into “Advocates” and “Senior Advocates” under the Advocates Act, 1961 was intended to recognize expertise. But recent discussions—including a 2025 Supreme Court directive—highlight that the current system may unintentionally create hierarchies, reduce objectivity, and impact access to justice.

🔎 Key Concerns:

✅ Hierarchy & elitism: Senior advocates often receive preferential treatment, which can undermine equality among lawyers.

✅ Subjectivity: Vague criteria like “special knowledge” leave room for inconsistent or biased decisions.

✅ Limited access: If engaging a senior advocate becomes essential for a fair chance, justice becomes expensive and inaccessible, especially for those from marginalized backgrounds.

✅ Systemic bias: Underrepresentation of women and first-generation lawyers continues, discouraging diversity within the legal profession.

The Supreme Court’s recent call for High Courts to revisit and refine their guidelines for designating senior advocates is a step in the right direction. But as a legal community—and as a society—we must go further.

🛡️ Justice must not just be done, but seen to be accessible, affordable, and fair for all.

Reforming these practices isn’t just about lawyers; it’s about ensuring that every citizen can access justice on an equal footing, without elitism or unnecessary hurdles.

As we reflect on these issues, let’s commit to building a legal system where equality is not just a principle, but a lived reality.

#Justice #Equality #LegalReform #Constitution #AccessToJustice #Law #LegalProfession