K R Chitra v. Secretary General Supreme Court of India & Anr.

1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.

2. The Petitioner - Ms K R Chitra is a practicing Advocate-on-Record in the Supreme Court of India.

3. It is her case that she submitted an application dated 6th February, 2018 for allotment of a chamber in the Supreme Court. However, due to certain defects the same was rejected. It is submitted by the Petitioner that the said defects have now been cured, however, she has not been put on the waiting list for chamber allotment.

4. The Petitioner made a representation dated 8th October, 2021 before the Supreme Court Bar Association, however the same has not been considered. None appears for the Respondent.

5. Allotment of a chamber especially in the case of a senior citizen like the Petitioner would be of immense benefit to the Petitioner. Applications for such chambers are usually allotted on the basis of a waiting priority list 2023/DHC/001643 and in order for a chamber to be allotted it would be necessary for the advocate to be on the list. Applications ought to be scrutinised expeditiously and some assistance also ought to be provided by the Association for enabling the applications to be completed and names put on the waiting list. The said applications ought not to be kept pending for long number of years.

6. In the facts of this case it is directed that the Supreme Court Bar Association shall consider the Petitioner’s case on merits and if there are any deficiencies with her application, they shall seek the necessary documentation and take a decision on the same expeditiously, in any case, within four months. Considering that the Petitioner is a senior citizen, unnecessary inconvenience shall not be caused to the Petitioner.

7. This order be communicated to the Mr. Rahul Kaushik, Secretary, Supreme Court Bar Association (M:9205368120) who shall take the necessary steps and comply with the directions passed by this Court.

8. If the Supreme Court Bar Association does not comply with this order and does not take a decision within the prescribed time, the Petitioner is permitted to move an application before this Court.

9. With these observations, the present petition, along with all pending applications, is disposed of.

PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUDGE MARCH 3, 2023 dj/kt