The Supreme Court Arguing Counsel Association has submitted a representation to the Chief Justice of India, seeking a reform in the allotment of lawyers' chambers. In their letter, dated September 9, 2023, the Association highlighted concerns about chambers being locked and unused for extended periods, including some belonging to prominent lawyers.

One of the notable cases mentioned in the representation is that of Senior Advocate Mr. Harish Salve, whose chamber has reportedly been locked for the past three years. The Association contends that this practice goes against the principles of efficient justice delivery.

The crux of the Association's request lies in an amendment to Rule 20 of the "Allotment of Lawyer's Chamber Rules 2007." They propose that if an allottee does not utilize their chamber for one year, regardless of the reason, their allotment should be canceled. This, they argue, will prevent chambers from being underutilized or left idle for extended periods.

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The issue extends beyond Mr. Salve's chamber, as more than 15 chambers in the C.K. Daftari Chambers Block, over 10 in the M.C. Setalvad Chambers Block, and approximately 20 in the Old Lawyers Chamber Block are reportedly permanently locked, some for many years. Furthermore, some members who have been elevated as Judges or Members of Tribunals still retain their chambers.

The Association also raised concerns about the practice of transferring chamber allotments to spouses or legal heirs of the original allottees without verifying whether they are actively practicing lawyers or simply law graduates. These individuals have allegedly turned chambers into rental properties, depriving needy and active practitioners within the legal community.

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It is noteworthy that more than 3000 members are currently on the waiting list for chamber allotments, with many of them waiting for several years.

The Association's representation urges the Chief Justice of India to take immediate steps to address these issues and calls for the cancellation of allotments in cases where chambers have remained unused for extended periods. They believe that such reforms will help ensure that chambers are utilized efficiently and allocated to those who actively contribute to the legal profession. The representation marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to enhance the functioning of the Supreme Court and uphold the principles of justice and equity within the legal community.