Parliament Question: Panels of Advocates

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4770 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20TH MARCH, 2026 PANELS OF ADVOCATES † 4770. SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV: Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: (a) the details of panels of advocates in various Ministries as on date; (b) the manner in which the new guidelines for allocation of cases to panels of advocates are to be implemented in various Ministries; (c) the measures that have been taken to ensure compliance with these guidelines by all designated case in-charges; (d) the manner in which the Government will monitor compliance of case allocation guidelines by the case in- charges; and (e) the action plan of the Government in this regard? 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): The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice empanels Panel Counsels of different categories for representation on behalf of Union of India before the Supreme Court, the High Courts, Tribunals and District Courts. Total number of Panel counsel as on date is 8054. (b) to (e): The guidelines relating to allocation of cases to panel of advocates and compliance of cases allocation by the In-charge issued by the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice vide Office Memorandum No. J- 16/20/2024-Judicial dated 16th October, 2024, and Office Memorandum No. J-12/7/2025-Judicial dated 11th August, 2025 for transparent allocation of cases (Copies of both OMs are annexed). The guidelines issued vide Department of Legal Affairs OM No. J-12017/1/2019 Judicial Dated 21.10.2019 and modified OM No. J-12017/1/2022 dated 13.09.2022 provides procedure regarding allocation of cases pertaining to Union of India amongst the Panel Counsel for the Courts /Tribunals by the designated Litigation In-charges. In the said OM.s it has been specified that in respect of cases before Supreme Court of India, allocation of cases is to be done by the Ld. Attorney General for India and thereafter by Ld. Solicitor General for India. The aforesaid guidelines, issued vide OM dated 16.10.2024 & 11.08.2025 insist upon Panel counsel to get their LIMBS ID activated and regularly update the status of cases assigned to them, which are to be monitored on LIMBS portal by the Administrative Ministry/Department.Annexure F. No. J-12/7/2025-Judicial Government of India Ministry of Law & Justice Department of Legal Affairs (Judicial Section) Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi Dated the 11th August, 2025 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Sub: Fair and transparent allocation of cases by designated Litigation In-charge concerned amongst panel counsel for Union of India before High Courts / Tribunals / District & Subordinate Courts and Redressal Commissions etc. Reference is invited to this Department's OM No. J-16/20/2024-Judicial dated 16.10.2024 (copy enclosed for ready reference) in connection with the subject mentioned above. 2. In this regard, since the issue of OM ibid, it has been observed that designated Litigation In-charges (Ld. ASGI, DSGI, Sr. CGSCs and SGCs) are not complying with the guidelines in the said OM in letter and spirit, especially, in furnishing monthly report on allocation of cases and updating cases on LIMBS portal. 3. Since the issue of the 'Directives on Efficient and Effective management of litigation by Government of India' on 04.04.2025, for the purpose of monitoring and performance assessment of ASGI / DSGI / Panel Counsel, Department needs regular monthly reports on allocation of cases along-with regular updates of cases on LIMBS Portal developed by this Department for direct monitoring of cases by the Ministry/ Department concerned. 4. In view of the above, all the designated Litigation In-charges are instructed for the following: (i) ensure furnishing monthly report on cases allocated to panel counsel (including litigation in- charge himself) to Department of Legal Affairs through email; and (ii) ensure each and every case to be updated on LIMBS portal by the allottee counsel and the fee bills submitted by panel counsel (including litigation in-charge) must bear the unique LIMBS ID of the case. Without mentioning LIMBS ID, payment of fee shall not be made by the Central Agency Section / Litigation Sections / Branch Secretariats and administrative Ministry / Department concerned, as the case may be. 5. The above instructions are issued with the approval of Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law & Justice. Encls: As above. (M. C.Prusty) To, Senior Government Advocate 1. The Additional Solicitors General for India (as per list); 2. The Deputy Solicitors General for India (as per list); 3. The Senior Central Government Standing Counsel (as per list); 4. The Standing Government Standing Counsel (as per list). Copy (through email) to: 1. All the Ministries / Departments as per standard list. 2. PS to Hon'ble MoS (WC) L&J. 3. PSO to Law Secretary / All Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries & Legal Advisers in the main Secretariat of DLA. 4. Ld. Attorney General for India / Ld. Solicitor General for India. 5. The In-charge, Branch Secretariats at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. 6. The In-charge, Central Agency Section. 7. The In-charge, Litigation (High Court / CAT/ Lower Court) Sections. 8. LIMBS team of Department of Legal Affairs. 9. To upload on website of this Department i.e. www.legalaffairs.gov.in under tab 'Judicial Section' in the link 'Circulars pertaining to Iitigation'.Hindi Section for providing Hindi version of this OM. 10. To upload on website of this Department i.e. www.legalaffairs.gov.in under tab 'Judicial Section' in the link 'Circulars pertaining to litigation'.Hindi Section for providing Hindi version of this OM. 11. Office/Spare copy. 4t/ it.0 (Kumar Gaurva) Section Office (Judicial) Tel: 011-23384945 Email: judicial-dla@nic.inThrough Post .1 Email F. No. J-16/20/2024-Judicial Government of India Ministry of Law & Justice Department of Legal Affairs (Judicial Section) **** Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi Dated the 16th October, 2024 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject: Fair and transparent allocation of cases by designated Litigation In- charge, concerned amongst Panel Counsel for Union of India before Hon'ble High Courts/ Tribunals/District and Subordinate Courts and Redressal Commission etc. - regarding. This Department has designated some categories of Law Officers / Panel Counsel as Litigation In-charge for the High Court/ Tribunal and District and Subordinate Courts concerned, vide this Department's OM No. J-12017/1/2019- Judicial dated 21.10.2019 (copy enclosed). The main purpose of designating these Litigation In-charges is supervision and fair allocation of cases amongst the Panel Counsel before the High Courts / Tribunals / District and Subordinate Courts concerned under direct intimation to this Department. 2. But, this Department is receiving complaints / reports from not only the Panel Counsels but also from the Ministries / Departments regarding unfair and opaque allocation of cases by the Litigation In-charges of the High Courts / Tribunals and District and Subordinate courts concerned. Such practices are not only detrimental to other panel counsel, but, also jeopardizes the interests of Union of India. Moreover, allocating ordinary / routine matters to senior category of counsels causes unnecessary burden. 3. To address the issue highlighted above, the undersigned is directed to circulate following guidelines to all the designated Litigation In-charges for Hon'ble High Courts/ Tribunals/District and Subordinate Courts and Redressal Commission etc. for strict compliance: (I) cases of ordinary / routine nature may be assigned to Panel Counsel (except Addl. SGI / Dy. SGI / Senior Panel Counsel) on turn basis; (ii) if the Ministry / Department recommends the name of a particular Panel Counsel in writing, it should have proper justification; (iii) important, sensitive, and high stake matters including those involving constitutional vires of the provision being under challenge may be assigned to Addl. SGI I Dy. SGI / Senior Panel Counsel and/or on the specific request in writing of the Ministry / Department concerned; (iv) two or more cases in which substantially identical questions of law or facts are involved and where the main difference is in the names, addresses of the parties concerned amount of money involved etc. irrespective of the fact whether all such cases are heard together or not, may be assigned to the same Panel Counsel and not different ones; Page 1 of 2(v) a Panel Counsel, except Addl. SGI / Dy. SGI / Sr. Panel Counsel, should at a given point have not more than 10% cases out of total pendency of Central Government litigation before the High Court / Tribunal / District & Subordinate Court concerned; (vi) it may be ensured that all the Panel Counsel get their LIMBS ID activated and regularly update the status of the cases assigned to them; (vii) the Departments are to monitor cases through LIMBS portal; and (viii) a monthly report on allocation of cases to Panel Counsel may be furnished through email to this Department on regular basis. 4. These guidelines need to be adhered to with immediate effect. 5. This is with the approval of Hontle Minister of State (I/C) for Law & Justice.Ends: As above. (M. C. 'rusty) Senior Government Advocate To, 1. The Additional Solicitors General for India (as per list). 2. The Deputy Solicitors General of India (as per list). 3. The Senior Central Government Standing Counsels (as per list). 4. The Standing Government Counsels (as per list). Copy (through email) to: 1. All the Ministries / Departments of Government of India (as per standard list). 2, PS to Hon'ble MoS (I/C) L&J. 3. PSO to Law Secretary / All Additional Secretaries and Joint Secretaries and Legal Advisers in the main secretariat of DoLA. 4. Ld. Attorney General for India / Ld. Solicitor General for India. 5. All the four Branch Secretariats of Department of Legal Affairs at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. 6. In-charge, Litigation (High Court / CAT I Lower Court) Sections. 7. To upload on website of this Department i.e. www.legalaffairs.gov.!n under tab 'Judicial Section' in the link 'Circulars pertaining to litigation'. 8. Hindi Section for providing Hindi version of this order. 9. Office / spare copies. (Kumar Gaurva) Section Officer (Judicial) Tel: 011-23384945 Email: judicial-d Page2of2