BCI Dissolves Bar Council Of Delhi, Special Committee Constituted To Oversee Elections

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has dissolved the State Bar Council of Delhi citing continued discrepancies in verification and repeated non compliance of the outer limit of January 31, 2026, for timely conclusion of its elections.

In a notice passed on October 10, the BCI said that the Bar Council of Delhi will cease to function with immediate effect and constituted a Special Committee Section 8A of the Advocates Act to oversee the former's elections.

Noting that immediate intervention was required to protect the electorate and to ensure neutrality, transparency and expedition in the polls, BCI has said:

“The State Bar Council of Delhi ceases to function with immediate effect. All elected members and office bearers stand relieved. All committees of the State Bar Council of Delhi stand dissolved.”

Further, BCI said that all the responsibilities for verification preparation of electoral rolls, scheduling conduct of polling counting and declaration will vest in the Special Committee, together with the Returning Officer and the Observer to be appointed by BCI under its Rules.

The Special Committee for the State Bar Council of Delhi will constitute of the following members: ASG Chetan Sharma, Senior Advocate Maninder Singh and Advocate Neeraj.

For context, the Supreme Court on September 24 directed all State Bar Councils to conclude their elections by January 31, 2026.

In its notice, BCI has said that an Election Committee for Delhi was constituted to accelerate verification and roll preparation and issued directions for continuity of verification and timely data submission.

The lawyers' body has said that it became evident that the directions to conclude elections on time were not being implemented in letter and spirit.

“The constitution of the Election Committee did not translate into measurable progress or operational control needed to meet the court fixed timeline. In these circumstances and to prevent further slippage the Bar Council of India is constrained to invoke Section 8A to ensure neutral effective and time bound stewardship of verification and elections,” the notice said.

It further adds that the Special Committee shall exercise all powers and perform all functions of the State Bar Council of Delhi, including the charge of funds, staff and records.

The BCI has also said that the Special Committee shall oversee verification and preparation of the electoral roll and shall conduct the election within the timeframe fixed.

“The Special Committee shall publish a draft electoral roll based on verified data and objections received up to and including 31.10.2025 and shall finalize the roll for notification of the election schedule. Polling counting and declaration shall be completed on or before 31.01.2026,” BCI has said.

“These directions are intended to restore compliance with binding judicial orders to secure accurate verification and to ensure that the electorate of Delhi is represented by a lawfully elected Council by 31.01.2026 on the basis of a verified and reliable roll. The measure is curative and time bound and is taken after successive extensions and advisories since 28.06.2023 have not produced the necessary results,” the notice adds.

click here to read notice