HC notice to SC on plea against advocate-on-record system

A bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw sought the apex court's response to a plea by a city advocate challenging the Supreme Court rules on the ground that it violated the fundamental rights of other lawyers having the same qualification.

The high court bench sought the apex court's reply by December 9 issuing it notice on the plea by advocate Balraj Singh Malik who argued that a large number of advocates are suffering professionally because of this rule giving the privilege only to advocates on record.

The bench also issued notices to the Attorney General of India, the Solicitor General, the Supreme Court Bar Association as well as the Advocate-on-Record Association, seeking their replies on the issue.

Challenging the Supreme Court Rules of 1966 which allows only the AOR to file petitions before the apex court, Malik pointed out that "other advocates are equally skilled in filing cases according to requirements of different formats in different courts and there is no speciality in the Supreme Court practice other than high courts."