The Supreme Court allowed the SCBA to hold its November 2 general body meeting. Any ballot result must remain undisclosed and be submitted to the court.Stock photo used for illustrationNewdelhi,Oct 26, 2026 16:38 ISTThe Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to hold its general body meeting on November 2 to discuss electoral reforms, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The court directed that any voting at the meeting must be conducted through a secret ballot and that the result must not be declared.
The outcome must instead be submitted to the court in a sealed envelope.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued the directions after senior advocate Jaideep Gupta raised concerns about the proposed meeting before the court. Gupta heads the court-appointed committee examining reforms in the SCBA.According to PTI, Gupta told the bench that the SCBA had called a special general body meeting to consider two resolutions linked to the court's May 29 order.
The resolutions concern entry based on proximity cards and veteran members of the association. The meeting is scheduled ahead of the next hearing on November 5 in the SCBA vs BD Kaushik matter, in which the bench is monitoring electoral reforms in the association.
Gupta clarified that he was not opposed to the passage of any resolution but questioned the manner in which the meeting had been convened.SCBA president and senior advocate Pradeep Rai defended the association's decision, saying the meeting was intended to seek members' views before its executive committee formed an opinion. He said the concerns could have been addressed through discussions within the association rather than being taken to court. "Instead of coming to this court, we could have resolved it.
Why waste the valuable time of this court," Rai asked. During the hearing, the Chief Justice said the court-appointed committee's proposals were intended to strengthen the position of genuine practitioners and not curtail their rights. "Those who are genuinely regular visitors to the Supreme Court, having an interest in the Bar, the institution and the system, we want to strengthen their hands.
All those outsiders who have nothing to do with the profession should be isolated and excluded," the Chief Justice said.Allowing the SCBA to proceed with the November 2 meeting, the bench reiterated that voting must be held by secret ballot and the result must remain undisclosed until further directions. "Now that you have called the meeting, you may go ahead, but do not declare the outcome. Keep it in a sealed envelope and produce it before the Court," the Chief Justice said.The SCBA can therefore hold the scheduled meeting and vote on the proposed resolutions, but it must submit the result to the Supreme Court in a sealed envelope without making it public.- Ends