Supreme Court Asks Registry Not To Accept Petitions Relating To Bar Council Elections

The Supreme Court recently expressly directed its Registry not to entertain any petitions relating to the ongoing State Bar Council Elections. The Court has asked all the aggrieved candidates or stakeholders to approach the High Powered Committee (HPC) headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia.

The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi was hearing a writ petition challenging a communication issued by the Bar Council of India, mandating the adoption of a “single ballot system” for forthcoming Maharashtra Bar Council elections.

The petitioner also sought a direction that women candidates contesting under the reserved category should not be disadvantaged by any mid-process change in the ballot system that weakens the structural safeguards provided for their representation.

At the outset, the CJI remarked that the "petition is filed by some over-ambitious advocate" .

He stressed that the bar members should welcome the directions for 30% women reservations in the elections, as so far no legislature has implemented the promise of women reservations in electoral set-ups.

The bench directed the Registry not to allow any Bar Council Election-related petitions and permitted all the aggrieved persons to make a representation before the HPC headed by Justice Dhulia.

"The registry is directed not to entertain any petitions concerning the elections of the State Bar Councils. However, if the aspiring candidates or any other stakeholder are facing any difficulty, liberty is granted to them to approach the High Powered Committee headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, Former Judge of the Supreme Court."

The bench also clarified that they are dismissing election matters before it, but relegating them to the HPC instead. Recently, the Court also directed the High Courts to not interfere with Bar Council Elections.

Advocate Omkar Deshpande appeared for the petitioner.

What was the petition about?

The Petitioner, a duly enrolled advocate and an aspiring candidate in the category reserved for women, seeks to contest the ensuing elections to the State Bar Council. The elections are being conducted pursuant to directions issued by the Supreme Court in its order dated 18 November 2025, where a structured and phased election framework was laid down and High-Powered Election Committees were constituted to ensure free, fair, transparent, and time-bound elections across State Bar Councils.

In compliance with the said order, the Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa issued an Election Notification dated 22 January 2026. The notification expressly provided for a separate ballot mechanism for women candidates, in furtherance of the reservation mandated by the Supreme Court. Acting on the basis of the notified framework, candidates including the Petitioner , commenced campaigning and structured their electoral strategy accordingly.

However, by a letter dated 10 February 2026, the Bar Council of India, relying upon a decision of the High-Powered Election Supervisory Committee dated 9 February 2026, directed all State Bar Councils to abandon any two-ballot system and instead adopt a uniform “single ballot system” with an identification marker for women candidates. Aggrieved by this, the Petitioner has approached the Court.

The following prayers are sought by the petitioner :

a. Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction in the nature of Certiorari, quashing and setting aside the letter dated 10.02.2026 issued by the Bar Council of India pursuant to the decision of the High-Powered Election Supervisory Committee dated 09.02.2026, insofar as it directs adoption of a single ballot system and mandates modification of the Election Notification dated 22.01.2026 issued by the Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa;

b. Declare that the High-Powered Election Supervisory Committee has no jurisdiction to alter or modify a duly notified election framework of a State Bar Council in the absence of a specific challenge to such notification;

c. Declare that the Election Notification dated 22.01.2026 issued by the Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa shall continue to operate and be implemented in its original form, including the ballot structure and mechanism provided therein;

d. Issue appropriate directions ensuring that reservation for women candidates, as mandated by this Hon'ble Court, is implemented in a manner that is effective, meaningful and not merely symbolic;

e. Direct that women candidates contesting under the reserved category shall not suffer dilution of structural electoral protection by midstream alteration of ballot modalities;

f. Stay the operation, implementation and effect of the letter dated 10.02.2026 issued by the Bar Council of India, insofar as it applies to the Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa;

g. Restrain the Respondents from reprinting ballot papers or modifying the notified election process pursuant to the impugned letter during pendency of the present Writ Petition;

Case Details : SHAILAJA DHONDIRAM CHAVAN vs. BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA WP (C)203/2026 and connected matters

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