New Delhi, May 4:
The executive committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has questioned the apex court’s order passed on May two, giving directions to the SCBA in conducting its elections.
In an emergent meeting held by the executive committee of the SCBA on Friday, the members showed their anxiety and concern about the Supreme Court order passed on May two, without considering relevant provisions of the SCBA rules.
The SCBA members said that there was no need for the apex court to pass such an order without considering SCBA rules.
The Lawyer’s body questioned the top court’s May two order saying that the Independence of the Bar, which is a critical pillar in the judicial delivery system and a vital stakeholder in administration of justice has been impinged.
The SCBA called for an emergent general body meeting (EBM) to be held on Tuesday in terms of its rule 22 to address the PAN India consequences on the role of the judiciary to suo moto amend the rules of the Bar and interference in the working of the bar associations.
The said order passed by a bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan, was questioned by the SCBA and called for an emergent meeting.
In its May two order, the apex court had directed SCBA to hold its elections on May 16, 2024. The court had also directed that a minimum of one-third of its posts should be reserved for women candidates.
The court clarified that 30 per cent reservation for women should be ensured in upcoming elections for 2024-25.
The court further directed that some of the posts in the executive committee must be permanently reserved for women candidates.
It directed that one post of the office-bearers of SCBA shall be exclusively reserved for women by turn and on a rotational basis.
The court stated that this exclusive women’s reservation will start with the post of Treasurer for the 2024-25 elections.
The court further directed that the junior executive committee (3 out of 9) and the senior executive committee (2 out of 6) of the SCBA shall be reserved for the women candidates.
The court also directed that their present order shall overrule any resolution passed by the SCBA earlier.
