Supreme Court Refers Plea Challenging Chhattisgarh Bar Council Elections To Justice Dhulia Committee

The Supreme Court on Thursday requested the High Powered Committee headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia to inquire into the alleged malpractices in the Chhattisgarh State Bar Council elections that took place in September 2025. 

The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymaly Bagchi was hearing a transfer petition by BCI seeking transfer of a pending writ petition challenging the Chhattisgarh Bar Council elections to the Top Court. 

The writ petition before the High Court was filed by candidates aggrieved of alleged corrupt practises and horse trading in the election to the post of office bearers of the Chhattigarh Bar Council. Sr Advocate Hufeza Ahmadi, assisted by AoR Pranjal Kishore, appeared for the respondents, while BCI was represented by its Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra. 

The bench noted that both parties have agreed to hand over the matter to the High Powered Supervisory Committee (HPSC)headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, overseeing Bar Council Elections. 

The Court further granted liberty to Justice Dhulia to take measures against the liable persons found doing corrupt practises during the bygone elections. Upon completion of the inquiry and proceedings, the HPSC is also requested to conduct the fresh elections of office bearers of the state council. 

"We request Justice Dhulia to complete the fact-finding inquiry as early as possible and preferably within 2 weeks from the date parties enter appearance before it. He may fix a date and inform the parties telephonically, the venue and timing." 

"Justice Dhulia shall be at liberty to take such measures as may deem fit against such persons/ elected members found to be involved in any kind of malpractice. On completion of this exercise, we request Justice Dhulia and the committee to conduct the election of the officer bearers of the Chhattisgarh Bar Council. It will be appreciated if the elections are conducted within 2 weeks from the date of completion of the proceedings of the inquiry." 

The Court also clarified that if any party is aggrieved by the decision of the Committee, it shall be challenged before the Supreme Court and not before the High Court. It was further directed that " No High Courts shall entertain any writ petitions challenging the decision taken by this committee." 

The court transferred to itself the pending writ petitions and disposed of them as infructuous. 

Case : BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA AND ANR. v. CHANDRA PRAKASH JANGADE AND ORS. T.P.(C) No. 100-101/2026