The Jabalpur Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday directed the State Bar Council to decide the appeal of former District Bar Association President, Sidhi before April 10.
The petition has been filed by Munindra Dwivedi, Advocate, challenging the order dated on March 3 2021 passed by the District Bar Association, Sidhi, by which his membership has been terminated from the District Bar Association.
The grievance of the petitioner is that he has been the President of District Bar Association on four occasions and that he has been expelled from the membership of the Bar Association with a view to deprive him from participating in the election.
Sandeep Singh Baghel, the Counsel appearing on behalf of State Bar Council, Jabalpur submitted that the petitioner has already filed an appeal against this expulsion before the State Bar Council on March 08 2021 and notice has been issued to the District Bar Association. He further informed the Court that State Bar Council shall decide the appeal filed by the the petitioner within a period of one week.
Vikas Mahawar, the Counsel appearing for District Bar Association, Sidhi stated that election of District Bar Association, Sidhi is scheduled to take place on April 7 2021.
The division bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Fahim Anwar with regard to the submission of the Counsels, directed the petitioner and District Bar Association, Sidhi to appear before the appellate authority/State Bar Council at Jabalpur on April 03, 2021 at 11.00 a.m. The appellate authority shall decide the appeal on or before April 10, 2021 in accordance with law.
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It was clarified by the Court that if the petitioner succeeds in appeal, the District Bar Association may revise the programme of election so as to give opportunity to the petitioner to participate in the election process. The Court further directed that the date of election be postponed from April 07 to 15.