Chief Justice Balakrishnan elected to bench of Lincoln's Inn

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has been elected to the bench of the honourable society of Lincoln's Inn, London.

Justice Balakrishnan is the third Indian to have been conferred the honour. Other two are- the former Supreme Court Judge Sujata V Manohar and the Attorney General of India Milon K Banerjee.

An honorary bencher of the Lincoln's Inn enjoys all the privilages of an ordinary bencher except that they can neither vote nor hold any office.

Lincoln's Inn is one of the four Inn's of Court- the three other in customary order are Inner Temple, Middle Temple and Gray's Inn.

Justice Balakrishnan had adressed the Lincoln's Inn at a symposium of judges and lawyers on ''the independence of judiciary'' during his visit to London in June this year.

The highest rank of membership is that of benchers who are categorised as ordinary, additional or honourary bencher.

The Inn's of court are the incorporated bodies of lawyers, which have the power to call the Bar for those of their members, who have duly qualified for the rank or degree of Barrister at Law.

UNI