Bar Council Elections: Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Plea Against BCI Rule Fixing Nomination Fee At ₹1.25 Lakh

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice on a plea challenging a recent decision of Bar Council of India to hike the nomination fee for contesting the State Bar Council Elections to Rs 1,25,000.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela sought response of the Union Government, Bar Council of India and Bar Council of Delhi.

The matter is listed for hearing on December 10.

The plea has been filed by lawyer Pramod Kumar Singh, who was represented by Advocates CS Rathore and Sanjeev Kumar.

Singh had claimed that the decision of BCI taken on September 25, to increase the nomination fees for contesting membership of all the State Bar Council to Rs. 1.25 lakh, is arbitrary, highly excessive, unreasonable and unjustified.

The plea states that most of the advocates interested and willing to participate in the concerned State Bar Council elections may be deprived of participating due to the hike.

It adds that such increase of nomination fee is against the democratic process of elections, principles of natural justice as well as against the mandate of Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution of India.

Furthermore, the plea states that the increase of nomination fee would amount to giving encouragement to money and muscles power in the hands of certain advocates.

“That to the knowledge of the petitioner, even the nomination fee contesting the Lok Sabha Elections for general category candidates is Rs. 25,000/- & for Scheduled Cast category Rs. 12,500/-; for Member of Legislative Assembly MLA) is fixed as .Rs.10,000/-for General Category (Rs.5,000/- for S.C. category). Whereas nomination fee for contesting the General Elections of the Delhi Municipal Corporation is Rs. 5,000- for general category ( Rs. 2,500/- for Scheduled Cast) category candidates,” the plea states.

It prays that in place of the increased fee, a reasonable amount between Rs. 10,000 to Ra. 15,000 be fixed as nomination fee for giving free and fair chance to all those interested advocates.

Another prayer is sought to fix the nomination fee for contesting the elections of the concerned State Bar Councils as was fixed in the elections held prior to this year.

A similar plea is pending before the Kerala High Court.

Notably, the Supreme Court on October 17 refused to entertain a similar plea after which the same was withdrawn.

The BCI issued the circular pursuant to the Supreme Court's order dated September 24, 2025, in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1319/2023, directing that long-pending State Bar Council elections be completed by January 31, 2026.

The BCI subsequently instructed all State Bar Councils to constitute election committees and conduct the polls, while simultaneously revising the nomination fee to the new amount.

Title: Pramod Kumar Singh v. Bar Council of India & Ors