Bar Council of India (BCI) has dissolved the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) citing “discrepancies, delays and non-compliance” despite repeated extensions. A Special Committee led by ASG Chetan Sharma will now oversee affairs and ensure elections by January 31, 2026.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) disbanded the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) and established a three-member special committee to assume its responsibilities and organize new elections by January 31, 2026.
This decision follows ongoing delays in the essential verification of advocates and the compilation of electoral rolls.
In a letter sent to the BCD on October 10, the BCI announced that Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma will chair the committee, alongside Senior Advocate Maninder Singh and advocate Neeraj, President of the Central Delhi Court Bar Association.
The BCI stated,
“These directions are intended to restore compliance with binding judicial orders to secure accurate verification and to ensure that the electorate of Delhi is represented by a lawfully elected Council by 31.01.2026 on the basis of a verified and reliable roll. The measure is curative and time bound and is taken after successive extensions and advisories since 28.06.2023 have not produced the necessary results,”
The committee will have complete administrative authority over the Bar Council of Delhi’s funds, staff, and records.
The BCI pointed to ongoing “discrepancies, delays and non-compliance” by the BCD, despite numerous extensions and directives over the last two years.
The BCI noted that subsequent relaxations were allowed “to avoid a vacuum and to enable completion of verification and preparation of an accurate electoral roll.”
However, despite several reminders and advisories, “there has not been the required improvement in pace or accuracy.”
It is noteworthy that the BCD’s term was previously extended in June 2023 for six months due to disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, with additional allowances made to verify advocates’ degrees and certificates as required by the Supreme Court.
However, the BCI reported that the BCD continually failed to meet deadlines for submitting verified data and correcting discrepancies, even after reminders in November 2024 and March 2025.
In its communication, the BCI cautioned that any obstruction or lack of cooperation would be taken seriously.
Furthermore, all current staff will remain under the oversight of the Special Committee, which will also manage disciplinary and welfare issues without any interruptions.
The Supreme Court, on September 24 of this year, mandated that elections for all state bar councils be concluded by January 31, 2026, and requested a status report by the end of October.
Citing its statutory powers, the BCI wrote,
“Section 8A of the Advocates Act empowers the Bar Council of India to constitute a Special Committee when a State Bar Council fails to perform its functions or when elections are not held in time.”
Accordingly, the BCI announced that,
“The State Bar Council of Delhi ceases to function with immediate effect. All elected members and office bearers stand relieved. All committees of the State Bar Council of Delhi stand dissolved.”
It also withdrew the earlier Election Committee “to avoid overlap,” stating that all responsibilities for verification, electoral roll preparation, polling, counting, and declaration would now rest with the newly formed Special Committee.
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The Special Committee, constituted under Section 8A of the Advocates Act, includes:
- Mr. Chetan Sharma, Additional Solicitor General of India (Chairman)
- Mr. Maninder Singh, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India (Member)
- Mr. Neeraj, Advocate and President, Central Delhi Court Bar Association (Member)
The letter stated,
“The Special Committee shall exercise all powers and perform all functions of the State Bar Council of Delhi. It shall have charge of funds, staff and records. It shall oversee verification and preparation of the electoral roll and shall conduct the election within the timeframe fixed by the Hon’ble Court.”