New Delhi, February 26: The Supreme Court has appointed its former judge, Justice L Nageswara Rao, to head a committee focused on electoral reforms within the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). This decision was made by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan, who confirmed that Justice Rao had agreed to chair the panel.
The committee is tasked with recommending guidelines and amendments to the SCBA bye-laws governing the election of its executive committee. The reforms will also define eligibility criteria for candidates contesting these elections. According to the court’s order issued on February 24, the panel will include senior and experienced advocates, ensuring that none of its members have previously contested SCBA elections.
The Supreme Court has given members of the bar two weeks to propose names for the committee, allowing Justice Rao full discretion in selecting its members. Should the bar fail to provide suggestions, he is authorized to form the team independently. Additionally, the committee may invite recommendations from SCBA members and other stakeholders.
The matter is scheduled for hearing on April 7. Earlier, the court sought input from senior advocates Vikas Singh, a former SCBA president, and Kapil Sibal, the current office-bearer, regarding the committee’s leadership. The bench had initially considered appointing a former Supreme Court judge elevated from the bar, including former Chief Justice U U Lalit, along with Justices Indu Malhotra and L Nageswara Rao, all of whom were deemed widely respected within legal circles.
In a prior ruling on May 2, 2024, the Supreme Court had mandated that 33% of executive committee positions in the SCBA be reserved for women.
