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CHAPTER III ADMISSION AND ENROLMENT OF ADVOCATES

Section 23: Right of pre-audience

The Advocates Act, 1961

(1) The Attorney-General of India shall have pre-audience over all other advocates.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Solicitor-General of India shall have pre-audience over all other advocates.

(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2), the Additional Solicitor-General of India shall have pre-audience over all other advocates.

1[(3A) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3), the second Additional Solicitor-General of India shall have pre-audience over all other advocates.]

(4) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (1), 2[(2), (3) and (3A)], the Advocate-General of any State shall have pre-audience over all other advocates, and the right of pre-audience among Advocates-General inter se shall be determined by their respective seniority.

(5) Subject as aforesaid—

(i) senior advocates shall have pre-audience over other advocates, and

(ii) the right of pre-audience of senior advocates inter se and other advocates inter se shall be determined by their respective seniority.

Footnotes in the official text

  1. 1.Ins. by Act 47 of 1980, s. 3 (w.e.f. 29-11-1980).
  2. 2.Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for “(2) and (3)” (w.e.f. 29-11-1980).

Questions on this section

2 questions in 5 of our papers cite Section 23. Try these from the free papers:

  1. 1. Under Section 23 of the Advocates Act, 1961, which of the following correctly states the order of pre-audience, beginning with the highest?

Practise questions on Professional Ethics & BCI Rules