 the advocates (amendment) bill, 1980 billfurt1her to amend the advocates act, 1961 :l3~ it enacted by parliament in the thirty-first year of the republic ot india a~ foljows:-1 this art may be called the advocates (amendment) act, 1980 short title 25 of 1961 2 in section 17 of the advocates act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as amendmentol 5 the principal act), after clause (d) of sub-section (3), the 'following section 17 clause shall be inserted, namely:-u(e) notwithstanding anything contained in clause (a), the seniority 0f &n attorney enrolled [whether before or after the commencement of the advocates (amendment) act, 1980] as an advo locate sh:111 be determined in accordance with the date of his enrolment as an attorney" 3 in section 23 of the principal act,-amend mentof sub-section shall be section 23 (i) after sub-section (3), the following inse'rted namely:-"(3a) subject to the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) the second additional solicitor-general of india shall have pre-auddence over all other advocates"; (ii) in sub-section (4), for the brackets, figures and word" (2) and (3)", the brackets, figures, word and letter" (2), (3) and (ja)" shall be substituted  statement of objects and reasonsthe class of legal practitioners known as attorneys was abolished by the advocates (amendment) act, 1976 and the pre-existing attorneys were required to become advocates under the advocates act with a view to protectmg their seniority, it is c,jroposed to amend section 17 of the advocates act to provide that the seniority of an attorney who has become un advocate shall be determined by the date of his enroiment as attorney 2 under section 23 of the advocates act, 1961, the attorney-general of india, the solicitor-general of india and the additional solicitor-generai of indla have in that order pre-audience over all other advocates a second additional solicitor-general has been appointed, for the better discharge of the legal business of government, on the same terms and conditions of service as the additional solicitor-general and with the same functions it is, therefore, proper that his right of pre-audience should be recognised by statute accordingly, it is proposed to amend section 23 of the advocates act, so as to give him the right of pre-audience immediately after the other three law officers of the government of india 3 the bill seeks to achieve the above objects new delhi; the 16th may, 1980 p shiv shanker  extracts from the advocatfb act, 1961 (25 of 1961) iistate bar councils to maintala rollot advocates (3) entries in each part of the roll of advocates prepared and maintained by a state bar council under this section shall be in the order of seniority, and, subject to any rule that may be made by the bar council of india in this behalf, such seniority shall be determilsed as follows:-rilht ot preaudience (4) subject tq the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3), the advocate-general of any state shall have pre-audience over all other advocates, and the right of pre-audience among advocates-general iftter se shall be determined by their respective seniority - - i i i a blll further to amend the advocates act, 1961 u:~"'" ,  (shti p shiv shanker, minister of law, justice and company affairs) 