Organisation : Department of Legal Affairs
Facility Name : Panel Counsel For Union of India
Applicable States/UTs : All India
Website : https://legalaffairs.gov.in/faq
What is Panel Counsel For Union of India?
Department of Legal Affairs has been mandated with conduct of litigations on behalf of Union of India before various courts / tribunals in India. For this purpose, Department of Legal Affairs empanels Advocates for various courts / tribunals in the country generally for a period of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. There are several categories (court-wise) in which this Department empanels Advocates and such empanelled Advocates are collectively called as ‘Panel Counsel’ for Union of India. However, ‘Panel Counsel’ is not a civil post and as such they are not regular Government Servant.
Categories of Panel Counsel for Union of India
1. Supreme Court of India (i) Group ‘A’ Panel Counsel
(ii) Group ‘B’ Panel Counsel
(iii) Group ‘C’ Panel Counsel
2. High Court of Delhi (i) Central Govt. Standing Counsel
(ii) Senior Panel Counsel
(iii) Government Pleader
3. High Court of Bombay (PB) at Mumbai, and, High Court of Calcutta (PB) at Kolkata along-with CAT Mumbai and Kolkata Bench
(i) Special Counsel
(ii) Senior Counsel Group – I
(iii) Senior Counsel Group – II
(iv) Junior Counsel
4. All the other High Courts and their Benches alongwith Benches of High Court of Bombay at Nagpur, Aurangabad & Goa and the High Court of Calcutta at Jalpaiguri, Port Blair.
(i) Senior Panel Counsel
(ii) Central Government Counse
5. All CAT Benches throughout the country (except CAT Benches at Mumbai and Kolkata)
(i) Senior Central Government Standing Counsel
(ii) Senior Panel Counsel
(iii) Additional Central Government Standing Counsel
6. All AFT Benches throughout the country
(i) Senior Central Government Standing Counsel
(ii) Senior Panel Counsel
(iii) Central Government Counsel
7. District Courts in Delhi
(i) Senior Panel Counsel
(ii) Additional Central Government Counsel
8. All District & Subordinate Courts throughout the country (except in Delhi)
(i) Standing Government Counsel
(ii) Additional Standing Government Counsel
Documents Required For Panel Counsel For Union of India
a) Name of court / tribunal seeking empanelment for.
(b) Desired category of Panel Counsel available in that court / tribunal.
(c) Certification on part of willing Advocate that he/she will be bound by all the terms & conditions (including fee) applicable to desired category of ‘Panel Counsel’ in the desired court/tribunal.
(d) A detailed and duly signed Bio-data may be enclosed with application incorporating the necessary details like name, postal address, contact numbers, email, legal qualifications, full enrollment number with the Bar Council concerned
FAQ On Panel Counsel For Union of India
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ On Panel Counsel For Union of India
What is selection criteria / guidelines and procedure for empanelment of Advocates by Department of Legal Affairs for representing Union of India before various courts / tribunals in the country?
Department of Legal Affairs empanels / engages Advocates in various categories of Panel Counsel for conducting Central Government litigation before various courts / tribunals in the country with the approval of Hon’ble Minister for Law & Justice on the basis of Advocate’s interest, qualification, experience, reputation, expertise, professional competence and standing at Bar. Such empanelment / engagement is issued by the name of the President in the form of executive orders which are uploaded on website of Department of Legal Affairs.
Whether any advertisement / notification is issued by Department of Legal Affairs for calling applications from desiring Advocates for the purpose of empanelment for any court / tribunal?
No. The empanelment of Advocates by Department of Legal Affairs is an ongoing process and is done on the basis of requirement of litigation before a particular court / tribunal.
Whether there is any reservation on the basis of community and gender of Advocates for the purpose of empanelment by Department of Legal Affairs?
No
Is there any sanctioned strength of Panel Counsel (Court-wise)?
As stated earlier ‘Panel Counsel’ for Union of India is not a civil post hence, the concept of sanctioned strength is not applicable in case of ‘Panel Counsel’. Advocates are empanelled for a particular court / tribunal by Department of Legal Affairs in numbers as required from time to time
What action can be taken against a Panel Counsel on mis-conduct?
On receipt of a complaint against any panel counsel, due enquiry is conducted and in case a mis-conduct or violation of terms & conditions by a Panel Counsel is proved, the Hon’ble Minister for Law & Justice can remove him / her from the panel.