Overview
- Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed the Centre to frame transparent guidelines within three months for selecting lawyers to represent government bodies.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court the government would devise a mechanism, noting that some facts cited by petitioners were accurate and some were not.
- The First Generation Lawyers Association’s petition challenges a 21 November list and seeks disclosure of all applicants, evaluation criteria, and minutes behind the selection of 654 advocates, including those enrolled in 2025 and awaiting AIBE results.
- A separate PIL by law student Vishal Sharma contests a 11 September order appointing Central government counsel, including relatives of judges and political figures, with the court treating the plea as a representation and giving six weeks for a decision on those grievances.
- Both cases spotlight the absence of uniform eligibility standards for empanelment, a process that decides which advocates can receive and conduct litigation for government departments.