On Monday, the Supreme Court stepped in to deal with growing disputes related to the ongoing Bar Council elections by setting up two new election tribunals headed by former Supreme Court judges. The Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stepped in while hearing a batch of petitions raising concerns over the handling of election-related grievances, with the Court closely examining the need for an expedited and independent adjudicatory mechanism before the disputes escalate further.
The controversy began when multiple petitions concerning election disputes in various State Bar Councils came up before the Apex Court. Bar Council of India Chairman and Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra urged the Bench to create a high-powered supervisory mechanism similar to the existing election tribunal headed by former Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia. A brief, heated exchange took place in court when Senior Advocate Kumud Lata Das, appearing for the Petitioners, objected to including a Bar Council of India representative in the committee. The situation escalated after BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra called her objection “very very bad.” Das then asked him not to raise his voice and remarked that he had remained BCI Chairman for a very long time. Mishra called the allegations “absurd.” However, Das later clarified that her remarks were not personal, and the matter was settled peacefully in court.
The Supreme Court observed that disputes arising from the ongoing Bar Council elections required speedy adjudication. The Bench stated, “In addition to the existing Election Tribunals, we hereby constitute two more tribunals.” The Court accordingly constituted one tribunal headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Deepak Gupta, along with former Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Senior Advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani. The second tribunal will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Hima Kohli, with former Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Senior Advocate Kaveeta Wadia as members.
The Court directed the Bar Council of India to obtain formal consent from all members and notify the tribunals within three days. It further ordered all State Bar Councils to preserve election records until the disputes attain finality and directed that all claims be decided expeditiously.
Consequently, the writ petitions were disposed of accordingly.
Case Title: Savita Devi @ Savita Dhanda & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors.
Case No.: Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 589/2026
Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Joymalya Bagchi
Advocate for the Petitioner: Sr. Adv. Devadatt Kamat, Sr. Adv. Amit Rawal, AOR Kumud Lata Das, AOR Neema, AOR Aakash Sirohi, Adv. Bibhuti Krishna, Adv. Harsh Ajay Singh, Adv. Ashutosh Saini, Adv. Ravi Agarwal, Adv. Siddhant Narayan Das, Adv. Puneet, Adv. Bela, Adv. Savita Devi, Adv. Navneet Kaur, Adv. Suman Dahiya, Adv. Aditya Singh, Adv.Indra Lal
Advocate for the Respondent: Sr. Adv. Guru Krishna Kumar, Adv. Ram Shankar, AOR Ram Shankar & Co.
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