From Aug 11, “No Senior Counsel Will Mention Matters – Let Juniors Get The Opportunity,” Declares CJI Gavai
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CJI B R Gavai announced that from August 11, designated senior advocates cannot mention urgent cases in his court, giving juniors more chances. The Supreme Court issued an official notice to enforce the rule.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has issued a formal notice stating that, starting Monday, 11 August 2025designated senior advocates will not be allowed to mention any case before the court of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India (CJI).
This decision was announced by Chief Justice B R Gavai during court proceedings and is aimed at giving junior lawyers more chances to present urgent matters before the CJI’s bench.
CJI Gavai, who assumed office on 14 May 2025had earlier revived the practice of oral mentioning of urgent cases by advocates — a shift from his predecessor, Justice Sanjiv Khannawho had required such requests to be submitted only through email or written letters.
While making the announcement in court, the CJI said,
“There is a great demand that no matters should be mentioned by senior counsel.”
He then directed the court staff to prepare and circulate an official notice to implement this change.
The CJI further clarified the scope of the decision by stating,
“From Monday, no senior counsel, I mean designated senior counsel, will be allowed to mention matters. Let juniors get an opportunity to do it.”
During the proceedings, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhviwho was present to mention a case, supported the move and remarked that he had no issue with the decision as long as it applied to all senior advocates equally.
He said he had
“no objection as long as the rule applied equally to all senior advocates.”
CJI Gavai responded by confirming,
“This will be practised at least in my court,”
and added that it would be the individual choice of other Supreme Court judges to adopt the same approach or not.
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In the Supreme Court, lawyers usually mention urgent matters before the CJI-led bench at the start of daily hearings to request early listing or out-of-turn hearings. With this change, such oral mentions will now be restricted to junior advocates when it comes to the CJI’s court.
The official notice, dated 8 August 2025 (F. No. 14/Judl./2025), has been signed by the Registrars and circulated to the Supreme Court Bar Associationthe Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Associationand all notice boards, requesting that it be displayed for the information of members.