Supreme Court Lauds Young Advocate’s Pro Bono Service, Calls for Renewed Focus on Accessible Justice
Last Updated on February 14, 2025 by Amit Patra
In a scathing attack on the increasing commercialization of legal practice, the Supreme Court has highlighted the pivotal role of pro bono legal practice, applauding a young lawyer’s commitment to serving the poor. The bench, consisting of Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, was “rare joy” to see such selfless service in the dog-eat-dog legal environment of the times.
The case had involved a party-in-person with English submissions problems, and the Court had asked Advocate Sanchar Anand to appear as amicus curiae. For fourteen hearings and two years, Anand worked without remuneration and eventually contributed to the settlement that earned the petitioner Rs. 20 lakhs. Appreciative of his exemplary service, the Court ordered the respondents to reward him with Rs. 1 lakh as token appreciation.
The verdict addresses a spreading concern in India’s judiciary – the impression that Supreme Court justice is the privilege of the wealthy. The court lamented the practice of litigants spending enormous sums on star lawyers, only to receive meager “Record of Proceedings” documents with scant relief. This practice, they added, perpetuates the impression that justice at the country’s highest court is for deep pockets only.
The Court’s reasoning was that attorneys, especially recently admitted attorneys, must represent poor clients on a pro bono basis whenever necessary. Such volunteerism, the judges felt, proves that the legal community itself is about access to justice and equality under the law – and not merely on paper but in practice. The court referenced Prof. Karen Thalacker’s saying that volunteering serves to fill an unseen void in oneself, with volunteers usually gaining more than they give.
This ruling has several functions: it identifies and compensates superior pro bono work, encourages young attorneys to perform such work, and provides a clear signal regarding the Supreme Court’s commitment to affordable justice. By putting Advocate Anand’s service into the spotlight, the Court has given a realistic demonstration of how legal professionals can serve society without compromising their practice.
The move is a bold push towards making India’s highest court more accessible to all citizens regardless of their financial status and maintaining the lofty ideals of the legal fraternity that are normally overpowered by commercial considerations.
