New Delhi, Sept 24: The Supreme Court has pulled up State Bar Councils for failing to hold elections for decades and directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to ensure polls are conducted across the country by January 31, 2026.
A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and N. Kotiswar Singh, heard multiple petitions on Wednesday. The court stressed that the elections must be held “if not simultaneously, then in a phased manner” but completed within the deadline.
The bench further directed that if any State Bar Council shows reluctance in implementing the order, the BCI must submit a status report by October 31, 2025.
The court warned that it would then decide “what recourse ought to be adopted” against the errant councils.
The matter will be heard next on October 17, 2025.
