Archive · 18 Dec 2025
Centre Considers Guidelines on Advocate Empanelment
The Centre is thinking about making rules for choosing lawyers to represent it in court.
A law student named Vishal Sharma filed a complaint saying the current way of choosing lawyers is unfair because some lawyers don't have enough experience.
The Delhi High Court gave the Centre three months to decide on making new rules.
The court also said the Centre should look into the complaints within six weeks.
The Centre agreed to consider the issues and make a decision.
Currently, there are no rules about who can be chosen as a lawyer for the government.
The Centre is considering formulating guidelines on the empanelment of advocates for representing it in courts.
A PIL challenged the empanelment of 38 CGSCs, 418 senior panel counsels, and 252 government pleaders at the Delhi High Court.
The Delhi High Court granted the Centre three months to decide on framing guidelines and six weeks to address grievances.
The PIL argued that the empanelment was arbitrary and included lawyers with insufficient experience.
The Solicitor General acknowledged some merit in the case and assured the court that the Centre would take appropriate steps.
- Who
- The Centre, Delhi High Court, and law student Vishal Sharma
- What
- The Centre is considering formulating guidelines on the empanelment of advocates for representing it in courts
- When
- The Delhi High Court granted three months to the Centre to decide on framing guidelines
- Where
- Delhi High Court
- Why
- A PIL challenged the empanelment of advocates, terming it arbitrary and citing lack of experience among some appointees
- Petitioner
- Vishal Sharma
- Advocate for Petitioner
- Shivam Sharma
- Solicitor General
- Tushar Mehta
- Central Government Standing Counsels (CGSCs) Appointed
- 38
- Senior Panel Counsels Appointed
- 418
- Government Pleaders Appointed
- 252
- Time Granted to Centre for Decision
- 3 months
- Time Granted to Address Grievances
- 6 weeks