Delhi High Court Defers Hearing in PIL Challenging Appointment of 650 Lawyers as Government Counsel
Delhi High Court defers PIL on Centre’s Supreme Court counsel empanelment.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday deferred the hearing in a public interest litigation (PIL) to 06 January 2025, challenging the recent empanelment of advocates as central government panel counsel for the Supreme Court.
The bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, on 03 December 2025, had asked the Additional Solicitor General, Mr. Chetan Sharma, to obtain instructions from the Central Government on the issue.
The case today was passed over first because Mr. Sharma was in court before another judge, and then the matter couldn't be taken up as the bench was not sitting after lunch.
According to the plea, the list includes several advocates who were recently enrolled and, in some cases, individuals who may not have passed the All India Bar Examination.
The petition states that "the list includes numerous advocates enrolled only in 2024 and even 2025, and in some cases individuals who may not have cleared the AIBE, thereby raising serious doubts about the criteria, objectivity and legality of the selection exercise."
It further argues that the role of Central government counsel is of constitutional significance as they represent the Union of India before the Supreme Court in sensitive constitutional matters, statutory appeals and issues impacting public administration.
The plea asserts that such appointments must comply with Article 14 and principles of fairness, transparency and equal opportunity.
While highlighting the lack of transparency, the plea says, "the notification does not disclose any criteria used for selecting candidates, invitation for applications or objective evaluation parameters, creating a legitimate apprehension that the empanelment has been carried out in an arbitrary manner."
The matter will now be heard on 06 January, 2025.
Case Title: First Generation Lawyers Association (FGLA) Vs. Union of India & Ors.
Bench: Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.
Next Date of Hearing: 06 January, 2025.