At 100, He Still Walks into Court — Kerala’s Oldest Senior Advocate and the World’s Longest-Serving Lawyer

Advocate Pachuveettil Balasubramanian Menon, widely known as P.B. Menon, continues to walk into the courts of Palakkad with a brief in hand even after turning 100. Born on 15 October 1926 at Pallasena in Palakkad district to Koman Nair and Kalyanikutty Amma, he holds the Guinness World Record for the longest career as a lawyer (male) and, upon his designation as Senior Advocate, became the oldest Senior Advocate in Kerala.

He graduated from Government Victoria College, Palakkad (B.Sc., 1947) and obtained his law degree from Madras Law College. Enrolled on 18 July 1950 before the Madras High Court, he trained under the then Advocate General Kuttikrishna Menon. After nearly two years, he returned to Palakkad and worked under criminal lawyer K.S. Ramakrishna Iyer. A senior judge’s advice following a successful criminal case in Kochi led him to specialise in civil law from the early 1950s—the area that has remained the core of his practice in the district courts ever since.

Law was his father’s choice, not his own, yet he has no regrets. Known for concise arguments, meticulous preparation and equal seriousness toward every brief, he has stayed a district-court practitioner by choice. His home, Rose Land at Puthur, remains open to junior lawyers and clients; he has mentored generations and donated his library to the Palakkad District Bar Association. He has also contributed scholarly notes and articles to law journals from the 1950s into the 2020s.

In September 2023, Guinness World Records verified his career at 73 years and 60 days, surpassing the previous mark of 70 years and 311 days set by Gibraltar’s Louis Triay. He also holds the India Book of Records recognition. By 2026 his practice had crossed 76 years. On the eve of his 100th birthday, the Kerala High Court, under Chief Justice Soumen Sen, designated him Senior Advocate—a rare honour for a lawyer whose work has been rooted in the mofussil courts. The designation made him the oldest Senior Advocate in Kerala. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among those who sent felicitations.

Still agile and attending court, Menon has repeatedly said he has no retirement plans and will continue as long as health and clients permit. His daughter Subhadra Muraleedharan notes that he approaches every case with the client’s quest for justice foremost. At a century of age, he remains a living institution of the Kerala Bar—proof that sustained commitment, client trust and quiet excellence can outlast any record.