The Supreme Court of India’s Registry on 1st April 2015 issued a notice regarding the examination of Advocate-on-Record (AoR) for 2015. The notice declared the dates of the examinations of AoR to be 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th May 2015. All the interested candidates for the examination have to apply on or before the 27th April 2015 to the Secretary, Board of Examiners. The application forms can be taken from the Secretary, Board of Examiners on any working day during the office hours.
All advocates who have completed their one year’s continuous training under an AoR on or before 30th April 2015 are eligible to apply for this examination.
It is noteworthy that in the Supreme Court of India, only an AoR is entitled to file the vakalatnama on behalf of the parties to a case. No other advocate can appear on behalf of a party except when authorized by the AoR.
Section 2(1)(b) of the Supreme Court Rules, 1966 defines an Advocate-on-Record as,
“‘advocate on record’ means an advocate who is entitled under these rules to act as well as to plead for a party in the Court; ”
Eligibility criteria to sit for the AoR examination is:
- He must have a practice of minimum 4 years as an advocate.
- After having the minimum 4 years of practice as an advocate, he should intimate the Supreme Court Registry that he has started the one year required training under an AoR and that he intends to become an AoR.
- Once his training has been completed, he is eligible to appear at the aforesaid AoR examination conducted by the Supreme Court.
Presently, an appeal against the judgment of the Delhi High Court which had upheld the constitutional validity of the Advocate-on-Record system is pending before the Supreme Court. The petitioners claim that the AoR is violative of Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India.
The aforesaid notice for AoR examination 2015 can be accessed here.
Question papers for the year 2014 AoR examination can be accessed here.
A.O.R. System
Is the System of Advocate on Record in High Courts of India is Legally sound ?
No, it is based on whims of certain group of legal professionals only who are engaged in milking the legal help aspirants of the country.