Senior Advocate Rishi Malhotra has recently faced scrutiny from the Supreme Court of India due to allegations of professional misconduct. On March 21, 2025, the Court issued a show-cause notice to Malhotra, questioning why his senior advocate designation should not be revoked. This unprecedented decision was made unanimously by the full court, convened by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, following concerns about Malhotra’s conduct in multiple cases.
The controversy centers around accusations that Malhotra suppressed material facts and made misleading statements in several cases involving the premature release of prisoners. Notably, in a February 20, 2025 judgment, a bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih highlighted instances where Malhotra failed to disclose critical information to the Court. In one case, he did not reveal that the Supreme Court had barred a convict’s remission for 30 years, leading to concerns about the integrity of the information presented.
Further, the Court noted that Malhotra’s actions were not isolated incidents. In October 2024, it was observed that he had made false statements in at least 15 different cases. These findings prompted the Court to consider establishing guidelines for Advocates-on-Record to prevent such lapses in the future.
Malhotra, who was designated as a senior advocate by the Supreme Court on August 14, 2024, has been given an opportunity to respond to the show-cause notice before any final decision is made regarding his designation. The Court has emphasized the need for serious introspection about the process of designating senior advocates, questioning whether the current system effectively ensures that only deserving advocates receive such distinctions.
These developments underscore the Supreme Court’s commitment to upholding ethical standards within the legal profession and ensuring that advocates maintain the highest levels of integrity and professionalism in their practice.
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