Supreme Court Bar Association v. B.D. Kaushik – Bar Association Elections -SCBA Reforms

Bar and Bench - The Bench and the Bar are two wheels of a chariot, bound by a shared responsibility to preserve the integrity of the justice delivery system. One cannot function without the other. An independent and a fearless judiciary requires a vibrant, ethical, and a responsible Bar. This is primordial to uphold the rule of law which forms the basic structure of the Constitution. (Para 3)

Supreme Court Bar Association - Election Reforms - Meaningful reform, particularly in matters concerning Bar elections and institutional functioning, is therefore essential to ensure transparency, accountability, and the continued faith of litigants in the administration of justice. (Para 3) [Context: The Supreme Court, in continuation of earlier B.D. Kaushik orders, comprehensively restructures eligibility and regulatory norms for voting and contesting elections to the Supreme Court Bar Association to reflect post‑COVID hybrid practice and institutional reform. It standardises appearance‑based thresholds, introduces special relaxations for women and advocates with disabilities, removes certain earlier categories (such as chamber allotment, proximity card usage, specific government‑counsel and amicus categories) as standalone bases of eligibility, and prescribes enhanced criteria for office‑bearers including the President and Vice‑President. The Court also lengthens the Executive Committee’s tenure, mandates a cooling‑off period, introduces a refundable security‑deposit regime and a strengthened model code of conduct with disqualifications for electoral malpractice. It directs time‑bound incorporation of these judicial directions into SCBA Rules and allows one additional month so that most reforms apply to the ensuing election for 2026‑2027.]