High Court Criticizes Deferral of Bar Council Elections on Basis of Unverified Allegations, Urges Expeditious Conduct of Elections
In a significant development concerning the democratic processes within statutory bodies, the Chhattisgarh High Court has expressed strong disapproval of the decision by the Bar Council of India to defer the elections of the Chhattisgarh State Bar Council and the Member to the Bar Council of India. The elections, initially scheduled for January 9, 2026, were postponed following an order by the Chairman of the Bar Council of India, citing unverified inputs regarding alleged corrupt practices.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Arvind Kumar Verma, heard the petitions brought forth by Chandra Prakash Jangade, challenging the postponement of the elections. The petitioners argued that the deferment was based on vague and unsubstantiated allegations, which lacked any concrete evidence of malpractice. They contended that such actions undermine the democratic functioning and autonomy of the Bar Councils.
The High Court, upon reviewing the impugned order dated January 6, 2026, noted that the allegations were general and omnibus, with no specific instances or material evidence cited to justify the delay of the election process. Emphasizing the importance of elections to statutory bodies in democratic governance, the Court stated that such elections should not be postponed lightly, especially when overdue.
In light of the observations made, the High Court has granted the Bar Council of India a 48-hour period to provide a detailed response explaining the basis for the deferment. The matter is set to be listed again on January 12, 2026.
The Court expressed hope that the Bar Council of India would take necessary steps to ensure the elections are conducted without further delay, maintaining fairness and transparency, and serving the interests of the legal fraternity.
Bottom Line:
Elections to statutory bodies, such as Bar Councils, are integral to democratic governance and must not be deferred lightly. Any decision to postpone elections must be supported by tangible material and demonstrable necessity rather than vague apprehensions or unverified information.
Statutory provision(s): Bar Council Elections.
Chandra Prakash Jangade v. Bar Council of India, (Chhattisgarh)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2835939
