The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to hold its scheduled general body meeting on November 2 to discuss election reforms, but directed that voting must take place by secret ballot and that the outcome must not be declared. The results are to be placed before the Court in a sealed envelope.

The directions were issued by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant after Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, who heads the Court-appointed committee examining the SCBA reform, made an oral mention and raised concerns over the proposed meeting. Gupta pointed out that the SCBA had called a special general body meeting to pass two resolutions linked to the Court's May 29 order, one relating to proximity card entry and the other concerning veteran members, ahead of the November 5 hearing in the matter of SCBA v BD Kaushik(in which the Court is monitoring the SCBA electoral reforms).

Gupta submitted that while he was not opposing any resolution, the meeting was being convened without consultation and appeared to overreach the Court's order, especially since the matter is listed for hearing just three days later. He also cautioned that any resolution passed would become binding immediately.

SCBA President Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai responded that the association wanted to ascertain the views of its members and that any concerns could have been resolved through discussion rather than approaching the Court. “Instead of coming to this Court, we could have resolved it. Why waste the valuable time of this Court?” Rai said, adding that the executive committee preferred consulting members before forming an opinion.

CJI Surya Kant clarified that the court-appointed committee's proposals aim to strengthen genuine practitioners rather than curtail their rights. “Those who are genuinely regular visitors to the Supreme Court, having an interest in the Bar, the institution and the system, we want to strengthen their hands. All those outsiders who have nothing to do with the profession should be isolated and excluded,” the Chief Justice observed.

The Court ultimately permitted the meeting to proceed under the stipulated conditions. “Now that you have called the meeting, you may go ahead, but do not declare the outcome. Keep it in a sealed envelope and produce it before the Court,” CJI Surya Kant directed. The CJI further requested all parties, including the SCBA leadership and the court-appointed experts, to remain present and assist the Court on the next date of hearing.