Supreme Court to constitute a committee for electoral reforms in SCBA, next hearing on March 03

On February 17, 2025 (Yesterday), the Supreme Court (SC) of India was hearing an intervention application suggesting some reforms to the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). The matter was heard by a two-judge bench of the SC constituting Justice KV Viswanathan and Justice Surya Kant. The intervention application, addressed in the matter, was filed by Senior Advocate Vikas Singh suggesting reforms such as who could contest the election of the President of the SCBA. Hearing this, Justice Kant said, “We think of constituting a committee of three-four [members] who do not indulge in election politics. Like Mr. Sibal has to be excluded, Mr. Vikas Singh has to be excluded...We need some five names...We will think of some names…” Senior Advocate and President of SCBA Kapil Sibal and Senior Advocate Singh accepted the same. Further, Sibal suggested, “Learned judge may be associated.” 

After discussing with Justice Viswanathan, Justice Kant added, “We have shortlisted two former judges. We can request them and we will try to persuade at least one of them. Both have spent entire life in Bar. We can request them to accept this responsibility. We will ask them to have advocates of their choice...” Adding to this, Justice Viswanathan said that the former judges would decide the names of the other members. Lastly, the bench orally remarked that a committee led by a former judge of the Supreme Court, comprising two senior advocates (one male and female each), two advocates on record (male and female each), and one experienced advocate would be constituted for suggesting reforms for the SCBA elections. The matter will now be heard on March 03, 2025, and the top court will consider the names suggested by various counsels for the committee.