On January 31, 2025 the Supreme Court bench of Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih refused to entertain a Writ Petition challenging the designation of 70 lawyers as Senior Advocates by the Delhi High Court.

The petition was filed by the advocate Sanjay Dubey, an applicant for Senior designation who was denied the same by the Delhi High Court. The petitioner alleged that the list of the designated Senior Advocates included names that are connected to sitting High Court Judges.

The petition arises out of a notification dated November 29, 2024, where the Full Court of the Delhi High Court designated 70 lawyers as Senior Advocates after interviewing 302 lawyers.

The said decision erupted into controversy after Senior Advocate Sudhir Nandrajog of the Permanent Committee stepped down over claims that the final list was drafted without consent.

The Permanent Committee members responsible for recommending the names of the Senior Advocates include the former Chief Justice Manmohan, Justice Vibhu Bakhru, Justice Yashwant Varma, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, and Senior Advocates Mohit Mathur and Sudhir Nandrajog.

Case Details : Sanjay Dubey V. The Full Court Of The Hon'ble Judges Of The High Court Of Delhi, Through The Registrar General & Ors. | Diary No. 3045 / 2025