**Summary:**
This document summarizes Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3396, answered on August 8, 2025, regarding the appointment and performance of lawyers as standing counsels for various Government Departments.
**Key Points:**
* **Appointment Criteria:** The Department of Legal Affairs empanels advocates as 'Panel Counsel' with the approval of the Minister for Law and Justice. The selection is based on the advocate's interest, qualification, experience, reputation, expertise, professional competence, and standing at the Bar. The minimum criterion is enrollment as an Advocate with the relevant Bar Council.
* **Performance Evaluation:** An Incharge litigations system is in place for all Courts/Tribunals, responsible for allocating cases to Panel Counsel and reporting on their conduct and performance to the Department of Legal Affairs. Feedback and complaints from Ministries/Departments are also considered, and proven misconduct can lead to removal from the panel.
* **Pending Cases:** As of the latest information, 13,476 cases against various Central Government Ministries/Departments are pending before the High Court of Kerala at Kochi/Ernakulam.
* **Negative Verdicts:** The outcome of court cases is determined by the merits of the case presented by the counsel, under the supervision and in coordination with the concerned administrative Ministry/Department. Therefore, negative verdicts cannot be solely attributed to the performance of the counsel.
**Answering Minister:**
Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State Independent Charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Law and Justice: A government ministry responsible for legal affairs and justice.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Adv Dean Kuriakose: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question No. 3396.
Standing Counsels: Lawyers appointed to represent Government Departments.
Arjun Ram Meghwal: Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Department of Legal Affairs: The department responsible for empaneling advocates as 'Panel Counsel'.
Bar Council: The professional body that regulates and represents lawyers in India.
High Court of Kerala at Kochi Ernakulam: The High Court located in Kochi Ernakulam, Kerala, where cases pertaining to Central Government Ministries are pending.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3396
TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 08th AUGUST, 2025
Appointment of Lawyers as Standing Counsels
3396. Adv Dean Kuriakose:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) whether there is any basic minimum criteria for appointment of lawyers as
standing counsels of various Government Departments;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there has been any evaluation of the performance of these
counsels, if so, the details and outcome thereof;
(d) the total number of cases pertaining to various Central Government
Ministries pending before the Kochi High Court; and
(e) the number and details of such cases that have received a negative verdict
at the High Court level due to lapses in contesting the cases?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF
LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) and (b): Department of Legal Affairs empanels suitable Advocates as 'Panel
Counsel' court-wise with the approval of Hon'ble Minister for Law & Justice
on the basis of Advocate's interest, qualification, experience, reputation,
expertise, professional competence and standing at Bar, to represent Central
Government's Ministries and Departments before various courts. As such, the
minimum criteria in this regard is that the person must be a lawyer duly
enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council concerned.(c): There is a system of In-charge litigations for all the Courts/Tribunals in
the country, who not only allocate cases to Panel Counsel but also send report
to Department of Legal Affairs on conduct and performance of the Panel
Counsel. Besides, the feedback/complaints are also received from
Ministries/Departments regarding panel counsel which are duly examined
and on proved allegations / mis-conduct, such Panel Counsel are removed
from the panel.
(d): As per latest information, a total 13476 cases against various
Ministries/Departments of Central Government are pending before High
Court of Kerala at Kochi (Ernakulam).
(e): Court cases are decided by the courts on merits of the case presented
by the counsel under supervision and in coordination with the administrative
Ministry / Department concerned. As such, outcome of a court case cannot
be attributed to performance of the counsel solely.