Delhi High Court Forms Committees Headed By Retd Judges To Conduct Elections Of Shahdara, Saket Bar Associations On May 09

The Delhi High Court has formed Election Committees headed by retired judges to conduct elections of Shahadara and Saket Bar Associations.

A full bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh, Justice Navin Chawla and Justice C Hari Shankar said that the elections or both the bar bodies shall be held on the same date- May 09.

Justice R.K. Gauba will head the Election Committee for Saket Bar Association whereas Justice Talwant Singh will be heading the Election Committee for Shahdara Bar Association.

“The respective Chairpersons of the Election Committees shall be free to nominate two Returning Officers (ROs) for each of the Bar Associations and three further Members to the Committee for assistance in the conduct of the elections,” the Court said.

It added that the details of the arrangements shall be finalized by the Election Committees and shall be published on the notice boards in both the said Courts along with the schedule of elections.

The Election Committee is free to decide whether the elections shall be conducted by paper ballot or by EVMs. However, EVMs shall be preferred for the same, the Court said.

The Court was dealing with a plea in which directions were issued from time to time regarding conduct of elections to the Delhi High Court Bar Association as also the various Bar Associations in the District Courts.

Pursuant to Court order, elections to all the Bar Associations were concluded on March 21, except in respect of the Saket and Shahdara Bar Associations which were called off due to various reasons.

The Court also issued directions regarding issuance of the Proximity Cards which were alleged to have been either destroyed, taken or misplaced in respect of the two bar bodies.

The Bench directed M/s SEC Communications Pvt. Ltd. to furnish a complete list of the Proximity Card holders who had been issued Proximity Cards in both the Bar Associations to the Registrar of Delhi High Court. The said list shall be uploaded on the Delhi High Court's website by 15th April, 2025, the Court said.

“All such Advocates who were already issued the Proximity Cards and whose names appear in the above stated list, would write an email on the email address mentioned in the circular which is to be uploaded on the Delhi High Court's website, if they require the issuance of fresh Proximity Cards, giving the reasons thereof briefly. The deadline for writing such email and for requesting the issuance of a fresh Proximity Card is 22nd April, 2025,” the Court said.

It added on receiving the emails, the same shall be compiled by M/s SEC Communications Pvt. Ltd. and fresh Proximity Cards shall be prepared to be handed over to the Chairperson of the Election Committees.

“The Proximity Cards shall be handed over to the Chairperson of the Election Committee by 2nd May, 2025 and all the Advocates who have applied for the Proximity Cards shall be free to collect the same from the Election Committee,” the Court said.

Title: LALIT SHARMA AND ORS v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 431

Click here to read order