Guinness Record-Holder P Balasubramanian Menon Designated Senior Advocate by Kerala High Court

KOCHI, Oct 11 : The Kerala High Court has designated P Balasubramanian Menon, a Palakkad-based lawyer who holds a Guinness World Record for the longest career as a practising advocate, as a Senior Advocate, just days before he turns 100 on October 15.

The decision was taken on Friday following an initiative by Chief Justice Soumen Sen, recognising Menon's extraordinary contribution to the legal profession over more than seven decades.

Legal sources described the designation as a rare instance of the High Court elevating a lawyer whose professional career has been predominantly associated with subordinate courts in Kerala's districts.

Menon entered the Guinness World Records in 2023 after completing 73 years and 60 days as a practising advocate. Enrolled in 1950, he continues to hold the record for the longest career as a practising lawyer.

His legal career began at the Madras High Court, where he gained experience under Kuttikrishnan Menon, who served as Advocate General. After spending two years there, he returned to Palakkad and continued his practice under the guidance of criminal lawyer K S Ramakrishna Iyer.

Menon initially focused on criminal litigation. However, an encounter with a judge during a case in Kochi proved to be a turning point in his career, prompting him to shift his focus to civil law, which later became the mainstay of his practice.

The recognition comes as Menon prepares to celebrate his centenary on October 15. His remarkable professional journey has spanned more than seven decades, witnessing significant changes in India's judicial landscape while remaining closely connected to district-level litigation.