The elections to the Supreme Court Bar Association will be held on May 20, the Supreme Court directed on Tuesday and reserved the the post of Secretary for women candidates this year.
Further, three of the nine seats in the EC shall be reserved for women candidates, the bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan ruled.
The Court said the election to SCBA office-bearers shall be held on the basis of voter list as finalized for 2024 elections. Along with those who were on the 2024 voter list, members who gained eligibility upto February 28, 2025 will be entitled to find place on the voter list.
The Court said the report of retired SC judge Justice Nageswara Rao on reforms in SCBA bye-laws and election norms be uploaded on the website. Members were asked to give suggestions and the court said no challenge to the report will be entertained.
On the Justice Nageswara Rao report, Justice Surya Kant said it cannot be imposed without hearing all the sides and noted that if the election is held before that, it will be without any recommendations and may have the same tenure.
The court said the report was prepared by Justice Rao on the court’s request and that they won’t allow the bar to sit on it. It said the final decision was with the bench alone and said the bar shouldn’t try to make anyone subservient to the SCBA general body, adding the court will consider any issues the bar faces.
It then issued the directions that the report be uploaded on the SCBA website and laid the ground rules for the election.
With polling on May 20, the couting will begin that day and results shall be declared on May 21.
“We have also taken into consideration sentiments of bar association, it is directed that for elections 2025-26, the post of secretary of SCBA shall be reserved for woman candidate and 1/3rd seat in executive committee, that is 3 out of 9, shall be for women candidates,” the bench said.
The Court then appointed three election officers: Senior Advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani, Senior Advocate Jitendra Mohan Sharma and Senior Advocate Vijay Hansari.