SC extends SCBA executive committee tenure to two years

The Supreme Court introduced major electoral reforms for the Supreme Court Bar Association, extending the executive committee tenure to two years from 2027 and revising voter eligibility norms. The court also mandated cooling-off periods and appearance-based voting criteria for advocates

New Delhi: In wide-ranging electoral reforms, the Supreme Court on Friday increased the tenure of the executive committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association to two years while directing that the move would be effective from 2027.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan said there would be a one-year cooling-off period after completion of a term.

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The top court gave one additional month for conducting the SCBA elections to ensure implementation of the reforms, except the increase in the executive committee’s tenure.

The apex court also held that advocates who have made at least 50 appearances before it would be eligible to vote. In a slew of directions, the top court said women advocates would be eligible with 30 appearances in the same period, while advocates with disabilities would require five appearances.

Contending that at least 75 per cent of the appearances must be physical, the top court said appearances can be verified through court records and orders.

The bench said for Advocates-on-Record , those with an average of 20 filings per year during the preceding two years would be eligible to vote.

“Advocates-on-Record with disabilities would require an average of five filings per year during the same period. “All senior advocates residing within the National Capital Region, including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, would be eligible to vote. The eligibility would also extend to senior advocates designated by the Supreme Court,” the bench said.

The directions were passed after considering recommendations made by the committee headed by former judge Justice L Nageswara Rao, suggestions from the SCBA, and others.