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A Supreme Court bench of Justices Nageshwar Rao and Abhay Oka on Friday dismissed a plea challenging the notification by Bar Council of India (BCI) to elect office bearers. The plea filed by two practicing lawyers namely Pooja Gupta and Julie George also sought for 30 percent reservation for women in BCI and State Bar Councils. The BCI elections are to be held on February 6, 2022.

The bench however granted liberty to Gupta and George to approach the Bar Council of India and make a representation for redressal of their grievances. 

According to sources, the writ petition also sought to bring to the notice of the Court, the fact that BCI has been holding elections in advance compared to previous years.

According to the plea, till the year 2010, the elections for the office bearers of the BCI used to be held in the month of April owing to the fact that the tenure of the newly elected office bearers commenced from April, however, holding the election in February is cutting the tenure of the officer bearers by 2 months.

According to the plea, this practice has been ongoing since 2010. The plea also sought the Court to direct BCI to refrain from enhancing the tenure of the office bearers at State Bar Councils on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cause Title: Pooja Gupta & Anr vs Bar Council of India