Advocates move HC against notification

A petition has been filed in the High Court of Karnataka, challenging the HC notification pertaining to the appointment of 18 advocates as senior advocates.

The petition has been filed by Puttige Ramesh, Ganesh Krishna, M H Sawkar and B L Acharya, all advocates.

They have sought for directions to quash the notification dated 16 November, 2018, designating 18 advocates as senior advocates. The petitioners have stated that, on 7 August, 2018, the registrar general of the Karnataka HC invited applications for the designation of senior advocates. On September 1, 2018, as many as 68 applications were received seeking designation as senior advocates.

Thereafter, an interview/interaction was conducted by the committee for designation of senior advocates of the HC with the candidates between 22 October and 31 October, 2018.

The Supreme Court then recommended the transfer of two judges of the Karnataka HC on 29 October, 2018.

The petitioner said owing to this, the committee appears to have hastened the process of designation.

They said, on 11 November, 2018, the committee deliberated and awarded points to the 68 applicants. On 15 November, 2018, the full court took up the matter and decided to designate the 18 respondents as senior advocates.

Following this, a notification was issued on 16 November, 2018.

The petition further states that the committee has entirely overlooked the seniority of the large number of advocates including the petitioners and recommended the designation of juniors with far lesser credentials.