Court affirms gender reservation and refuses to entertain challenges to reform report
New Delhi, May 6 — The Supreme Court has directed that the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections for the term 2025–26 will be held on May 20, 2025, with vote counting on the same day and results to be declared on May 21.
A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh issued the order while hearing matters related to electoral reforms in the SCBA. The current executive committee, headed by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, will complete its term on May 19, 2025.
“Elections shall be held on the basis of the 2024 voter list,” the Bench clarified.
In a significant move towards gender inclusion, the Court also reserved the post of Secretary for a woman candidate and reaffirmed that one-third of the SCBA Executive Committee (3 out of 9 seats) must be held by women.
“It is directed that for the elections of 2025-26, the post of Secretary of SCBA shall be reserved for a woman candidate,” the order stated.
The Court appointed Senior Advocates Pavani Mahalakshmi, Jitendra Mohan Sharma, and Vijay Hansaria as election officers.
The Court also addressed the Justice Nageswara Rao Committee Report on SCBA election reforms, emphasizing that while the reforms may not be imposed before the upcoming elections, no challenges to the report will be allowed.
“We have to give full respect to it… Final decision is on us and on us only,” the Bench asserted.
Instead, the Court allowed stakeholders to submit modification requests for consideration. It directed that the report be uploaded on the SCBA website for transparency and review.
