MERC Advocate on Record Empanelment 2026

Corrigendum Update: MERC has extended the last date for this empanelment to 12 August 2026, up to 4:00 PM (previously 5 August 2026). All other details of the advertisement remain unchanged.

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) is inviting applications for Empanelment of Advocates on Record and Law Firms to represent the Commission before the Bombay High Court, its benches at Aurangabad, Nagpur and Kolhapur, and the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) in Delhi. If you are an Advocate enrolled with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa with relevant years of practice, or a registered Law Firm with legal experience, you can apply offline by post. The last date to submit your application is now 12 August 2026. Empanelled advocates get a retainer fee of Rs. 50,000 per month plus additional fees for hearings and drafting work.

Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) Advocate on Record Empanelment 2026

MERC has released an advertisement to build a panel of experienced Advocates and Law Firms who can handle its legal matters in court. This empanelment covers cases before the Bombay High Court and its benches at Aurangabad, Nagpur and Kolhapur, as well as the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) at Delhi. Preference is given to candidates with experience in Electricity Laws — this is not a typical desk job but an on-call professional engagement where you represent the Commission whenever a matter comes up. Both individual advocates and law firms can apply, though the eligibility and fee structure differ slightly for each.

Who Can Apply?

For Individual Advocates:

• You must be a citizen of India.
• You need a degree in Law from a recognized university and must be enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.
• You should have at least 10 years of practice as an Advocate as on the date of advertisement. MERC is inviting applications from advocates with 5 to 10 years of experience as well as those with above 10 years of experience, under separate fee categories.
• Preference is given to advocates with experience in Electricity Laws.

For Law Firms:

• Your firm must be registered under the Statutes of India.
• You should have an office in both Maharashtra and Delhi with the infrastructure needed to handle the assignment.
• Your firm needs at least 10 years of relevant legal experience.
• Your firm's annual turnover from professional receipts should be at least Rs. 1 crore for each of the last three financial years (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25), supported by ITR and audited annual accounts.
• Your firm must not be debarred by any Union or State Government department or PSU.

Age Limit

• Individual applicants should not be more than 55 years old as on the date of advertisement (6 July 2026).
• Age Relaxation: The upper age limit is relaxed by up to 5 years for applicants who worked for at least 10 years as Assistant Government Pleaders in the High Court before the date of advertisement.
• This age limit applies only to individual advocates — it does not apply to Law Firm applications.

Salary

Empanelled advocates are paid a fixed monthly retainer plus additional fees for specific tasks. The amount you get for each task depends on your experience category:

• Retainer Fee: Rs. 50,000 per month for both experience categories.
• Full Day Hearing: Rs. 7,500 (5-10 years experience) or Rs. 10,000 (above 10 years experience).
• Half Day Hearing: Rs. 3,750 (5-10 years) or Rs. 5,000 (above 10 years).
• Adjournment After Short Arguments: Rs. 2,500 (5-10 years) or Rs. 3,750 (above 10 years).
• Drafting of Petition/Reply: Rs. 5,000 (5-10 years) or Rs. 10,000 (above 10 years).
• Legal Opinion: Rs. 5,000 (5-10 years) or Rs. 7,500 (above 10 years).

MERC has stated that this fee structure may be reviewed and revised in the future based on requirements.

Selection Process

MERC will select empanelled advocates and law firms in the following stages:

1. Scrutiny of Applications: The Commission checks your application and documents for completeness and eligibility.
2. Shortlisting: MERC reserves the right to shortlist eligible advocates and law firms for the next stage.
3. Interview / Pre-Empanelment Discussion: Shortlisted advocates and law firms may be called for a personal interview or a pre-bid discussion at a time convenient to the Commission.

Applications that are incomplete, illegible, received after the deadline, or not in the prescribed format will not be considered. Canvassing or pressuring the Commission in any manner will lead to disqualification.

How to Apply

1. Download the application proforma from merc.gov.in.
2. Fill in the form with your details and attach the required documents.
3. Write "Application for Empanelment of Advocates & Law Firms" clearly on the envelope.
4. Send the application by post or hand-deliver it to the Secretary, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission, World Trade Centre, Centre No. 1, 13th Floor, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400005.
5. Make sure your application reaches this address during office hours before the last date. Applications sent to any other address or by any other mode will not be accepted.

Important Dates

• Advertisement Date: 6 July 2026
• Last Date to Submit Application: 12 August 2026 (up to 4:00 PM) — extended from the original 5 August 2026 via corrigendum

• Represent MERC in matters before the Bombay High Court and its benches at Aurangabad, Nagpur and Kolhapur
• Represent MERC before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), Delhi
• Draft petitions, replies, and legal opinions on electricity law and regulatory matters
• Attend hearings, arguments, and adjournments as assigned by the Commission
• Coordinate with MERC's legal and administrative teams on ongoing cases
• Advise the Commission on regulatory and electricity law issues as needed
• Maintain confidentiality and professional standards while handling each case
• Submit timely case updates and documentation for every assigned matter