New Guidelines for Central Government Lawyers

The Union Law Ministry has issued new guidelines governing the appointment of lawyers representing the Central Government before the Supreme Court, High Courts, district and subordinate courts, tribunals and other judicial forums.
Under the revised guidelines, applicants for Central Government lawyer positions must hold a law degree from a university or law college recognised by the Bar Council of India, be enrolled with a State Bar Council and have passed the All India Bar Examination with a certificate of practice.
Selection will consider legal experience, the nature and importance of cases handled, professional ability, conduct, integrity and overall performance, while the performance of appointed government lawyers will be reviewed annually.

Key Features of the New Guidelines

Union Law Ministry, Central Government lawyers, Bar Council, Supreme Court and High Courts
Eligibility conditions, experience-based selection, annual performance review, possible removal from the government counsel panel
Recognised law degree, State Bar Council enrolment, All India Bar Examination qualification, no criminal conviction or professional prohibition
Experience in income tax, customs, GST and PMLA laws, verification of application documents, protection of official confidentiality

According to the new guidelines, applicants for Central Government lawyer positions must possess a law degree from a university or law college recognised by the Bar Council of India. They must also be enrolled with a State Bar Council under the Advocates Act, 1961, and must have qualified in the All India Bar Examination and obtained a certificate of practice.

Candidates will be considered for inclusion in the Central Government counsel panel based on their legal practice experience. The authorities will examine the nature of cases previously handled by an advocate and assess the lawyer’s ability to deal with cases involving significant legal or public importance.

Advocates with specialised experience in areas such as income tax, customs, Goods and Services Tax and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act will be considered for special panels representing the Central Government before courts, tribunals and judicial forums. Lawyers with at least 10 years of legal practice experience will also be considered for inclusion in the panel based on their professional legal ability.

The selection process will take into account an advocate’s overall performance record, conduct and integrity. Information submitted in applications and the authenticity of supporting documents will also be verified by the authorities before appointments are considered.

Applicants will have to declare that they have not been convicted in any criminal case and that they have not been prohibited from practising law by a Bar Council or competent authority. An application may be rejected if the applicant is found to have used the position of government counsel in a manner detrimental to the interests of the Central Government.

The performance of Central Government lawyers will be assessed every year. The government may remove a lawyer from the panel at any time on grounds including contempt of court, professional misconduct or punishment imposed by a court, according to the guidelines.

Lawyers selected for the Central Government counsel panel will also be required to protect the confidentiality of information relating to the concerned ministry, department or organisation. The new guidelines have come into immediate effect, according to the Union Law Ministry.

The guidelines state that selection and continued appointment will be subject to professional competence, integrity, performance and compliance with applicable legal and confidentiality requirements.