On 7th February, 2025, the Supreme Court bench of Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, dismissed a petition filed by Advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara, challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to confer senior designations on 70 advocates.

The Supreme Court bench in the previous hearing slammed Advocate Nedumpara for alleging nepotism in the designation process and warned him of contempt action if these claims were not removed.

During today's hearing, Justice Gavai emphasized that no advocate in the Supreme Court receives preferential treatment just because he has a senior gown. The bench effectively dismissed the petition without any further deliberation.

Justice Gavai also added, "You better get elected to Parliament and get this(provision in the Advocates Act regarding senior advocates) removed...,” to which Advocate Nedumpara responded, "I will pursue this,"

Last week, the Supreme Court dismissed another petition challenging the Delhi High Court's senior designations. In 2023, the Court had also rejected Advocate Nedumpara's earlier petition challenging the constitutionality of Section 16 of the Advocates Act, which governs the classification of Senior Advocates, and Section 23(5), which grants Senior Advocates the right to pre-audience.

Case Title: Shri Mathews J. Nedumpara And Ors. Versus The Full Court Of The Honble Judges Of The High Court Of Delhi And Ors., Diary No. 60205-2024

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