Supreme Court Vakalatnama Format for Advocate-on-Record
A vakalatnama authorises an advocate to act for a party in judicial proceedings. In the Supreme Court of India, the filing and acting function is governed by the Advocate-on-Record system under the Supreme Court Rules, 2013. A party represented by counsel ordinarily files a duly executed vakalatnama in favour of an Advocate-on-Record together with the required memorandum of appearance.
Who can file and act for a party in the Supreme Court?
Under Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, the Advocate-on-Record occupies a distinct procedural role. The AOR is responsible for filing the appearance and acting for the party in the Court. Other advocates may appear and plead subject to the Rules and instructions of the AOR.
The Supreme Court maintains an official Advocate-on-Record directory. The Court also conducts the prescribed AOR examination and publishes related notices and materials on its official website.
Execution and acceptance of the vakalatnama
If the vakalatnama is executed in the presence of the Advocate-on-Record, the AOR should certify that it was executed in his or her presence. If the AOR merely accepts a vakalatnama already duly executed before a Notary or another advocate, the AOR is required to endorse that he or she has satisfied himself or herself about its due execution.
Current Supreme Court scrutiny practice also checks whether the vakalatnama has been duly executed and accepted by the Advocate-on-Record, whether the memorandum of appearance has been filed, and whether required party contact particulars are stated where applicable.
Memorandum of appearance
The memorandum of appearance is a separate Supreme Court filing associated with representation through an Advocate-on-Record. The Supreme Court provides an official Memorandum of Appearance through Advocate-on-Record form on its Forms page. Practitioners should use the current prescribed form and comply with any applicable e-filing or appearance-slip directions.
Download Supreme Court Vakalatnama Format in MS Word
Specimen Supreme Court vakalatnama
The specimen below preserves the substance of the original format but updates the rule reference and removes dated wording. It should be adapted to the case type, party status and current Registry requirements.
VAKALATNAMA
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
____________________ JURISDICTION
PETITION / APPEAL / APPLICATION NO. ______ OF 20__
______________________________________________
PETITIONER(S) / APPELLANT(S) / APPLICANT(S)
VERSUS
______________________________________________
RESPONDENT(S)
I / We, ______________________________________________, the Petitioner(s) / Appellant(s) / Applicant(s) / Respondent(s) in the above matter, do hereby appoint and retain:
MR. / MS. __________________________________, ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD, SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
to act and appear for me / us in the above matter and on my / our behalf to conduct, prosecute or defend the same and all proceedings connected therewith, including applications, review proceedings and other proceedings permissible under law; to file and receive documents; to obtain return of documents; to deposit and receive money where permitted; and to take all lawful and necessary steps on my / our behalf in connection with the above matter.
I / We agree to ratify all lawful acts done by the aforesaid Advocate-on-Record in pursuance of this authority.
Dated this ______ day of __________________, 20__.
__________________________________
SIGNATURE OF CLIENT / PARTY
Petitioner(s) / Appellant(s) / Applicant(s) / Respondent(s)
ACCEPTED:
__________________________________
ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD
AOR Code / Registration No.: __________________
Address for service: ________________________________
Mobile: __________________
E-mail: __________________
Execution endorsement: The above vakalatnama was executed in my presence / I have satisfied myself about its due execution, as applicable under the Supreme Court Rules, 2013.
Specimen memorandum of appearance
MEMORANDUM OF APPEARANCE
To,
The Registrar,
Supreme Court of India,
New Delhi.
Sir / Madam,
Please enter my appearance on behalf of the Petitioner(s) / Appellant(s) / Applicant(s) / Respondent(s) / Intervener(s) in the above-mentioned matter.
New Delhi
Dated: __________________
Yours faithfully,
__________________________________
ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD
AOR Code: __________________
Address for service: ________________________________
Changing the Advocate-on-Record
The original page stated categorically that a No Objection Certificate from the existing AOR is always necessary to change the Advocate-on-Record. That statement is too broad to present as a universal rule. A change of AOR must comply with the Supreme Court Rules, Registry procedure and any order applicable to the case. Where the existing AOR ceases to represent a party, Order IV contains specific duties and procedures, including Rule 18 in situations such as designation as Senior Advocate, appointment as a Judge or another reason for ceasing to be the AOR.
Parties changing representation should therefore follow the current Registry procedure and, where required, file the appropriate consent, discharge, substitution or permission documents rather than relying on a generic NOC statement.
Practical points before filing
Before filing, verify that the correct party has signed the vakalatnama, the authority of any signatory acting for a company, institution or other juristic person is supported by appropriate documents, the Advocate-on-Record has properly accepted and endorsed the vakalatnama, the memorandum of appearance is filed in the prescribed form, and the contact particulars and e-filing requirements prescribed by the Registry are satisfied.
This specimen is for drafting guidance. Supreme Court Rules, amendments, circulars, practice directions and Registry filing requirements should be checked on the official Supreme Court website before filing.