The Supreme Court of India on Friday strongly reprimanded a lawyer who repeatedly approached the Court against the Delhi High Court over the issue of senior advocate designation.

The lawyer, appearing in person, informed the bench that it was the third time he had approached the Supreme Court, alleging that the Delhi High Court had failed to comply with earlier directions to reconsider deferred or rejected applications for senior designation expeditiously.

Appearing for the High Court, Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao told the bench that interviews for the senior designation process were already underway. However, the submission failed to convince the Court.

Expressing strong displeasure, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked, “The whole world might be eligible for senior designation, but at least you are not. If the High Court makes you senior, we will set it aside, seeing your professional conduct.”

Justice Joymalya Bagchi also questioned the lawyer’s repeated litigation over the issue, asking whether he had no other matters to pursue apart from seeking senior designation.

The bench observed that senior advocate designation is an honour conferred by the Court and not something to be aggressively pursued through repeated petitions and contempt applications.

During the hearing, the CJI initially dictated an order stating that the petitioner did not deserve senior designation due to the filing of frivolous petitions. However, after the lawyer apologised repeatedly and requested the withdrawal of the remarks, the bench recalled the order.

In another sharp observation, the CJI expressed concern over certain advocates and social media commentary targeting the judiciary. He said he was waiting for an appropriate matter to direct a CBI investigation into the authenticity of some law degrees of advocates in Delhi.

“There are already parasites in society who attack the system, and you want to join hands with them?” the CJI remarked while cautioning lawyers against filing unnecessary contempt petitions and participating in attacks on judicial institutions.

The bench eventually dismissed the application as withdrawn.

The lawyer had earlier filed a writ petition challenging the Delhi High Court’s refusal to consider him for senior designation and later moved a contempt petition alleging non-compliance with Supreme Court directions. The contempt petition had already been dismissed by the Supreme Court in December last year.