Restriction on Practice After Being a Permanent Judge
Official heading: “Restriction on practice after being a permanent Judge .”
- Source edition
- The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2026)
- Source locator
- Part VI, Article 220, printed page 101
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1. In One Sentence
Article 220 debars retired permanent High Court Judges from practicing in the same High Court or its subordinate courts, while permitting practice in the Supreme Court and other High Courts.
2. What It Means in Everyday Language
Article 220 regulates post-retirement legal practice to prevent undue influence, conflicts of interest, and embarrassment to former judicial colleagues.
The General Prohibition: No person who has held office as a permanent Judge of a High Court shall plead or act in any court or before any authority in India.
Permitted Exceptions: The article contains an express exception: a retired permanent High Court judge MAY plead or act before: (a) the Supreme Court of India; and (b) any other High Court outside the specific High Court(s) where they served as a permanent judge.
Distinction from Supreme Court: While Article 124(7) imposes a total, blanket ban on retired Supreme Court judges practicing before ANY court or authority in India, Article 220 permits High Court judges to practice in the apex court and other High Courts.
3. Practical Illustrative Example
A retired permanent judge of the Bombay High Court registers as a Senior Advocate to argue constitutional appeals before the Supreme Court in New Delhi.
4. Important Limits, Qualifications & Exceptions
Article 220 maintains the integrity and dignity of the bench while permitting practice in other forums.
- Strict bar on practicing in the High Court(s) where one served permanently.
- Total bar on subordinate court practice within that jurisdiction.
- Permits practice in the Supreme Court and other High Courts.
- Contrast with Article 124(7) absolute ban for Supreme Court judges.
5. Operative Constitutional Text
6. Sources & Historical Assembly Deliberations
Assembly quotations are withheld until wording, dates, and attribution have been checked against the primary record.
- •Government of India (Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice) • Part VI, Article 220, printed page 101 • Human source-link check pending
Primary PDF accessed and transcribed with AI assistance on 14 October 2026. Formatting and amendment annotation markers are omitted; operative wording is retained. This is not human legal review. Later amendments and commencement notifications have not been comprehensively checked.