Chief Justice Chandrachud Highlights Role of Advocate-on-Record in the Modern Legal Landscape, praises them as “pillars of the Supreme Court.”
Last Updated on September 28, 2023 by News Desk
CJI D.Y. Chandrachud recently stated that AORs are important in every matter that comes before the Supreme Court and are sometimes even more important than the senior counsel when speaking at the felicitation ceremony of newly registered Advocates-on-Record (AORs), which was held on this Tuesday. Fundamentally, this is because the AOR is in charge of signing the pleadings and is ultimately answerable to the Court.
The AOR institution is crucial for the sustenance of the court, as it serves as the first interface with clients. CJI D.Y. Chandrachud shared stories of his first interface with clients, including a client from Nasik and a late AOR, Mr. VN Ganpule, who promised more cases.
The CJI was unaware of the meaning of many more cases, but Mr. Ganpule explained that it meant no fees in the case. He shared his experience with a politician who received a sari for a case of withdrawal of prosecution under Section 321 of the CrPC.
The speaker congratulated newly registered AORs for their achievements and discussed the evolution of AORs since the 1960s. He praised the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCORA) for representing the concerns of lawyers practising as AORs and fostering collaboration between the bar and the Court administration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Young AORs must constantly re-skill themselves to survive in the competitive future of law, as the law is evolving and requires new skills such as negotiation, mediation, councillor, and strategist, as they must constantly adapt to the changing landscape.
The Supreme Court has made significant technological changes, including the eSCR and digital SCR, which have made jurist prudence easier and faster. The court is constantly working to make courts more accessible, tech-friendly, and people-friendly. The CJI emphasised the importance of learning and relearning as part of legal professionals’ evolution, as technology allows for learning and disseminating knowledge at the click of a button. The SCORA lecture series reaches advocates and any legal professional, and the Court relies on lawyers to transform convenience into greater access to justice. The CJI also highlighted the importance of institutions shouldering greater responsibility and identifying and challenging their own biases in their decision-making. As advocates on record in the Supreme Court, they have a special responsibility to bear the traditions of the Court and understand the traditions of the past.
The speaker emphasised the challenges and opportunities ahead for Supreme Court advocates, emphasising their special responsibility to understand the court’s traditions and the precedents set by previous cases. He emphasised that they are officers of the court and rely heavily on their advocacy for justice.
Written by: Srijan Raj @raaj_srijan
