Advocate-on-Record (AoR)

Advocate-on-Record Latest News

The Supreme Court recently held that Advocates-on-Record (AoRs) bear full responsibility for the accuracy of petitions filed before the Court, even if the drafts are prepared by other advocates.

About Advocate-on-Record

• The concept of AoR was introduced by the SC with the power given to it under Article 145(1) of the Indian Constitution, whichstates that the SC may, from time to time, make rules for regulating the practices and procedures in the court.
• An AoR is a lеgal profеssional who is entitled to represent clients and plead for them in the SC.
• It is a spеcific catеgory of advocates with rights of audiеncе in thе SC.
• An AoR has thе exclusive right to filе and conduct casеs in thе SC. No advocateother than AoR can appear and plead in any matter unless an AoR instructs him.
• No other High Court in India has a similar provision.
• Order IV rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, lays down the requirements to be fulfilled to become an AoR. They are as follows:
  • The Advocate is required to be enrolled with any State Bar Council.
  • The Advocate is required to have a prior experience of at least 4 years.
  • The Advocate has undergone a training of 1 year under a senior AoR.
  • The Advocate has appeared for the examination conducted by the SC.
  • The Advocate is required to have an office in Delhi within a radius of 10 miles from the SC house and give an undertaking to employ a clerk, who shall be a registered clerk, within one month of being registered as an AoR.
• Once registered, an AOR is issued a unique identification number that must be used on all documents filed in the SC.

Roles and Responsibilities of Advocate-on-Record

• Only an AoR is authorised to file a Vakalatnama on behalf of a client in the SC. The Vakalatnama is a crucial document that grants the advocate the authority to represent the client. 
• All the procedural aspects need to be completed by AOR with the assistance of a registered clerk. 
• This includеs drafting and filing pеtitions, applications, and othеr lеgal documents.
• Any notice or order/correspondence by the SC is sent to the AoR.
• An AoR is personally liable for the due payment of all fees/charges payable to the court.

Advocate-on-Record FAQs

Q1. What is the meaning of Advocate-on-Record (AoR)?

Ans. An AoR is a lеgal profеssional who is entitled to represent clients and plead for them in the SC.

Q2. Is Advocate-on-Record (AoR) a gazetted officer?

Ans. No, an Advocate-on-Record (AoR) is not a gazetted officer.

Q3. How many attempts for the AoR exam?

Ans. A candidate is allowed five attempts to pass the AoR examination.

Source: LL