Miffed at advocates coming to courts without doing their basic homework, the Supreme Court today said lawyers should have at least 20 years of practice before being allowed to practice in the highest judiciary.
The apex court deplored the growing tendency of students directly coming from law colleges to practice in the Supreme Court without being aware of the nitty gritty of legal practice.
"In earlier days, we used to practice for 10 years in district courts and another 10 years in high courts before coming to the Supreme Court. But these days, law graduates directly come to the Supreme Court and want to become Nani Palkhiwalas!" a bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and AK Patnaik remarked.
The apex court made the remarks while chiding two young counsel appearing for their respective clients who tried to
argue their case without proper documentation, citations and
evidence.
The court burst into a peals of laughter when an advocate sought adjournment of his case on the ground that his files relating to the case had disappeared mysteriously.
Justice Katju, who was heading the bench, then cautioned that advocates should be wary of their files being stolen by rival lawyers and recalled the insecurity prevalant in the Allahabad high court.
The judge said a prominent advocate was caught stealing a number of cars from the high court premises and also stealing
files of other advocates. There were many such advocates who
resort to such practice there, he said.
He also cited the instances where even the chairs in advocates bar rooms were shackled to pillars as in the past several of them were stolen! sending the court hall into a laughter.
