Today, On 6th April, Supreme Court has ordered SCBA elections to be held on May 20, with the Secretary post reserved for women. The Court also said it won’t allow any challenge to the election reform report.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court mandated that the next Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections be held on May 20, 2025.
The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh issued this directive in a case concerning SCBA electoral reforms.
The Court noted that the term of the current SCBA executive committee, led by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, is set to conclude on May 19.
The Court ordered,
“Election of officer bearers of SCBA and executive committee members shall be held on May 20, 2025. Election shall be held on the basis of the voter list which was prepared for the year 2024,”
The Court added that the counting of votes should also commence on May 20, and the election results are to be announced on May 21.
In previous hearings, the Court had ordered that one-third of the posts in the SCBA’s executive committee (EC) be reserved for women.
The Court affirmed that this reservation will continue. It also ordered that the Secretary post be earmarked for women candidates.
The Court stated,
“We have also taken into consideration the sentiments of the bar association. It is directed that for the elections of 2025-26, the post of Secretary of SCBA shall be reserved for woman candidate and 1/3rd seats in executive committee, that is 3 out of 9, shall be for women candidates,”
The Court further acknowledged a report submitted by former Supreme Court judge, retired Justice Nageswara Rao, which proposed various reforms for SCBA elections.
Also Read: SCBA Members Revolt Over Expensive New Insurance Policy, Demand Urgent Meeting!
The Bench observed that it could not yet impose the reforms suggested in this report without first hearing from all stakeholders on the proposed changes.
The Bench observed,
“So if election is held before that, it will be without any recommendations, same tenure, etc,”
However, the Court clarified that it would not entertain any challenge to the report’s eventual enforcement, stating that it would only examine whether any of the suggestions should be modified.
“Justice Nageswara Rao has prepared report on our request. We have to give full respect to it and we will not permit the bar to sit on it. Final decision is on us and on us only. Don’t try to make anyone subservient to your general body etc. Yes, if there are issues with the bar, etc., that we will consider.”
This point was also reflected in today’s order.
Also Read: SCBA Election Reforms || Justice L Nageswara Rao Committee Invites Lawyers’ Inputs
The Court’s order stated,
“We direct: 1. Report by Justice Nageswara Rao shall be uploaded on the SCBA website. 2. No challenge to such report shall be entertained. However, a request can be made for modification, etc,”
The application on which today’s order was passed was filed by Advocate Yogamaya MG, who was represented by Senior Advocate Shobha Gupta and Advocate Sriram Parakkat.
Senior Advocates Adish C Aggarwala and Vikas Singh also appeared in the matter.
Case Title: Supreme Court Bar Association v. BD Kaushik and related matters