Due to recent controversy involving rigging of the Ballot Papers, 118 candidates of the Bar Council of Delhi Elections 2026 had requested for re-polling.
After considering the submissions, the Election Committee arrived at the conclusion that the present election process was conducted pursuant to specific directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and is exceptional in nature. The election was expressly ordered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide its order dated 18.11.2025, passed in W.P. (C) No. 1319/2023. The Committee further notes that the settled legal position, as laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Shaji K. Joseph vs. V. Viswanath & Ors. (2016) 4 SCC 429 and in the judgment dated 06.11.2024 passed in SLP No.26170/2024 titled Mandeep Singh & Anr. vs. Collector & Ors.
The Election Committee took into consideration by the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in the case of "Abhay Kumar Verma Versus Bar Council of Delhi & Others," 2004 (78) DRJ 1, wherein the Hon'ble Court held that the writ petitions challenging the election at the intermediate stage are not maintainable and the election process is required to be completed forthwith. If any person is aggrieved by the results, it is always open to him to file an election petition.
The election process is the fundamental soul of any democratic institution.
The elections to the Bar Council of Delhi are also conducted under the mandate of the Advocates Act, providing advocates the sovereign right to elect their representatives.
Election Committee has stated that, "The process of election is, therefore, sacrosanct. The same spirit has been consistently reiterated by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India that once the election process has commenced, it should not be interrupted and must be carried through to its logical conclusion. In the above facts and circumstances, the request of the 118 candidates is not sustainable, and no re-polling can be ordered by the Election Committee".
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