September 12, 2026

Section 23 – Advocates Act: Right of Pre-Audience

Advocates Act, 1961 — back to Table of Contents

Section 23. Right of pre-audience

(1) The Attorney-General of India has pre-audience over all other advocates.

(2) Subject to (1), the Solicitor-General of India has pre-audience over all other advocates.

(3) Subject to (1)-(2), the Additional Solicitor-General of India has pre-audience over all other advocates.

(3A) Subject to (1)-(3), the second Additional Solicitor-General of India has pre-audience over all other advocates.

(4) Subject to the above, the Advocate-General of any State has pre-audience over all other advocates; pre-audience among Advocates-General inter se follows their seniority.

(5) Subject as aforesaid: (i) senior advocates have pre-audience over other advocates; (ii) pre-audience among senior advocates inter se, and among other advocates inter se, is determined by their respective seniority.