Elections To All Bar Associations Shall Be Held On February 07: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has recently ordered that elections to all Bar Associations in the national capital shall be held on February 07, 2025.
A full bench comprising of Justice Yashwant Varma, Justice Rekha Palli and Justice C Hari Shankar decided the date after taking into consideration the submissions made by counsels as well as bearing in mind various preparatory steps liable to be taken for holdings of elections with due expedition.
“The elections to all Bar Associations in Delhi shall consequently now be held on 07 February 2025, subject to any legal restraint or impediment impeding that process,” the Court ordered.
The bench also directed all concerned authorities connected with the conclusion of formalities pertaining to the Delhi High Court Bar Association election to proceed with due expedition.
It also directed the authorities to ensure that all processes including disposal of objections are completed forthwith and in accordance with law.
“We direct all authorities connected with the scrutiny process of the DHCBA to ensure that all steps are taken and completed on or before 10 January 2025. We further direct the competent authorities to ensure that the Election Commission which is to be constituted follows immediately upon closure of the scrutiny process,” the Court said.
In March, the full bench had held that elections to the Executive Committee of all the bar associations in Delhi shall be held simultaneously on the same day for a uniform period of two years. For this year, it was ordered to be held on October 19.After the matter was adjourned by the full bench to November 27, two SLPs were filed by women lawyers, Aditi Chaudhary and Shobha Gupta, seeking reservation for women advocates in the ensuing bar elections.
Later, the elections were postponed by the Court to December 13.
Today, the Supreme Court directed reservation of 3 posts for women lawyers in the upcoming Delhi High Court Bar Association elections. Further, in the district bar associations, the Court directed that the post of Treasurer plus 30% of other Executive Committee posts shall stand reserved for women lawyers (including those already reserved for women).
Title: Nitin Kumar Advocate v. Bar Council of Delhi & Ors. and other connected matters