**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the Bar Council of India on May 25, 2026, establishes two Election Tribunals to adjudicate disputes arising from the 2026 State Bar Council elections. It outlines the composition of the tribunals, filing procedures, and strict deadlines for petition submission (15 to 30 days). The notification is effective immediately and mandates the disposal of election petitions within a target timeframe of six weeks.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Constitution of Election Tribunals**
* **Election Tribunal I:** Chaired by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta (former Supreme Court Judge), with members Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Ms. Mahalakshmi Pavani (Senior Advocate).
* **Election Tribunal II:** Chaired by Hon’ble Ms. Justice Hima Kohli (former Supreme Court Judge), with members Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Ms. Kaveeta Wadia (Senior Advocate).
**Handling of Legal Matters**
* **Pending Cases:** Existing election petitions or proceedings already assigned to previous tribunals will continue before them unless the Bar Council of India (BCI) orders otherwise for administrative reasons.
* **Filing Process:** All new petitions must be presented to the Secretary/Registry of the BCI for scrutiny and registration.
* **Allocation:** The BCI will allocate cases to the appropriate Tribunal or the High Powered Election Supervisory Committee based on the nature of the dispute and workload.
**Procedural Requirements and Timelines**
* **Limitation Period:** Petitions must be filed within 30 days of the declaration of election results. For results declared prior to this notification, the filing deadline is 15 days from the date of publication.
* **Fees:** A process fee of ₹30,000 is mandatory for election petitions, while other complaints or applications require a fee of ₹5,000.
* **Disposal Deadline:** Tribunals are directed to dispose of petitions as expeditiously as possible, ideally within six weeks of filing.
* **Tribunal Powers:** Tribunals have the authority to regulate their own procedures, minimize adjournments, and summon records or witnesses.
**Cooperation and Oversight**
* **Mandatory Cooperation:** All State Bar Councils, Returning Officers, and election authorities must provide full cooperation and produce requested documents, including ballot materials and result sheets.
* **Clarification Power:** The BCI retains the power to issue administrative clarifications, filing instructions, and registry directions to ensure the notification is implemented effectively.
**Impact Analysis**
**Candidates and Petitioners**
**Impact:** They are subject to specific legal windows and financial requirements to challenge election results.
**Action Required:** Must file petitions within the 15 or 30-day limitation period and ensure the proof of deposit for the required fees is attached.
**State Bar Councils and Election Officials**
**Impact:** They are legally obligated to assist the newly formed Tribunals and are subject to their directions.
**Action Required:** Provide all requested records, correspondence, and ballot-related materials to the Tribunals as and when requisitioned.
**Bar Council of India (BCI)**
**Impact:** Acts as the central administrative body for managing election disputes and tribunal logistics.
**Action Required:** Manage the registration of petitions, allocate matters between tribunals, and issue necessary administrative clarifications.
Key Entities Referenced
Bar Council of India: The primary regulatory body for the legal profession that issued these directions for the adjudication of election disputes.
Election Tribunals for State Bar Council Elections, 2026: Specialized adjudicatory bodies established to resolve petitions and disputes arising from the 2026 State Bar Council elections.
Savita Devi @ Savita Dhanda & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.: The Supreme Court writ petition (W.P. (C) No. 589 of 2026) whose orders mandated the notification of these election dispute directions.
High Powered Election Supervisory Committee: A committee constituted by the Supreme Court to handle the allocation of election-related legal matters to the appropriate tribunals.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-27052026-272911
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-27052026-272911
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग III—खण् ड 4
PART III—Section 4
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 344] नई ददल्ली, मगं लिार, मई 26, 2026/ज्य ष्े ठ 5, 1948
No. 344] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2026/JYAISTHA 5, 1948
भारतीय जिजधज्ञ पररषद ्
अजधसचू ना
नई ददल्ली, 25 मई, 2026
फा. स.ं बीसीआई:डी: 3307/2026.— माननीय सर्वोच् च न्यायालय द्वारा सवर्वता देर्वी उर्फ सवर्वता ढाांडा एर्वां अन्य
बनाम भारत सांघ एर्व ां अन्य, W.P. No. (C) 589/2026 म ें ददए गए आदेशों के अनपु ालन म,ें बार काउांवसल ऑर् इांवडया
(भारतीय वर्वविज्ञ पररषद)् एतद्द्वारा र्वषफ 2026 म ें आयोवित राज्य बार काउांवसलों के चुनार्वों स े उत्पन्न होने र्वाल े चुनार्वी
वर्वर्वादों के वलए वनम्नवलवित वनदेश अविसूवचत करता ह।ै
1. राज्य बार काउांवसल चनु ार्व, 2026 के वलए रिब्यनू ल का गठन
िषष 2026 स े प्रभािी होन े िाल े राज्य बार काउंजसल चुनािों स े संबंजधत चुनाि याजचकाओं के वनस्तारण के उद्दश्े य
स,े जनम्नजलजखत रिब्यनू ल भारतीय बार काउंजसल के रिब्यूनल के रूप म ेंकायष करेंगे:
3739 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4]
रिब्यनू ल I
a. माननीय न्यायमूर्तष दीपक गुप्ता, पूिष न्यायाधीि सर्वोच्च न्यायालय, अध्यक्ष
b. माननीय न्यायमूर्तष धीरि ससंह ठाकुर, पूिष मख्ु य न्यायाधीि आंध्र प्रदेि उच्च न्यायालय, सदस्ट्य
c. महोदया महालक्ष्मी पािनी, िररष्ठ अजधिक्ता, सदस्ट्य
रिब्यनू ल II
a. माननीय न्यायमूर्तष जहमा कोहली, पूिष न्यायाधीि सर्वोच्च न्यायालय, अध्यक्ष
b. माननीय न्यायमूर्तष तरलोक ससंह चौहान, पूि षमुख्य न्यायाधीि झारखंड उच्च न्यायालय, सदस्ट्य
c. महोदया किीता िाजडया, िररष्ठ अजधिक्ता, सदस्ट्य
2. पहल ेस ेलजं बत मामलों का िारी रहना
उपयुफक्त रिब्यनू ल के गठन मात्र स,े पहल े के चुनार्वों या पहले सौंपे गए मामलों स े सांबांवित ऐसी चुनार्वी यावचकाए,ां
आर्वेदन या कायफर्वावहयाां स्र्वतः ही प्रभावर्वत (बावित) नहीं होंगी, िो पहल े स े ही दकसी मौिूदा रिब्यूनल के समक्ष
लांवबत ह;ैं विसम ें ददल्ली उच्च न्यायालय के पूर्व फ मुख्य न्यायािीश, माननीय न्यायमूर्तफ रािेंद्र मेनन की अध्यक्षता
र्वाला रिब्यूनल और उनके सदस्य भी शावमल ह।ैं ऐसे लांवबत मामलों की सुनर्वाई उसी न्यायाविकरण के समक्ष िारी
रहगे ी विसे र्व े पहले स ेसौंप े गए ह,ैं िब तक दक बार काउांवसल ऑर् इांवडया प्रशासवनक कारणों स ेकोई अन्य आदशे
िारी न करे।
3. चनु ाि याजचकाओं का दाजखल करना
र्वषफ 2026 स ेआयोवित होन ेर्वाले राज्य बार काउांवसल चुनार्वों स ेसांबांवित प्रत्येक चुनार्वी यावचका को बार काउांवसल
ऑर् इांवडया के सवचर्व िो दक रिब्यूनल के सवचर्व होंगे, के समक्ष प्रस्ततु दकया िाएगा, िो ऐसी चुनार्वी यावचकाओं,
वशकायतों, आर्वेदनों या ज्ञापनों को प्राप्त करन,े उनकी िाांच करन ेऔर उन्ह ेंपांिीकृत करन ेके उद्देश्य स ेसवचर्व/रविस्िी
के रूप म ें भी काय फ करेंगे।
4. मामलों का आिटं न
चुनार्वी यावचका के प्रस्तुत और पांिीकृत होने पर, बार काउांवसल ऑर् इांवडया वर्वर्वाद की प्रकृवत, लांवबत मामलों की
सांख्या, सुवर्विा और कायफभार को ध्यान म ें रित े हुए मामल े को सांबांवित रिब्यूनल (या माननीय सर्वोच्च न्यायालय
द्वारा एम. र्वरिन बनाम भारत सांघ एर्व ां अन्य, W.P.(C) No. 1319/2023 में ददनाांक 18.11.2025 को पाररत
अपने आदेश के माध्यम स े गरठत उच्च अविकार प्राप्त चुनार्व वनगरानी सवमवत (High Powered Election
Supervisory Committee) को आर्वांरित करेगी। बार काउांवसल ऑर् इांवडया, प्रशासवनक सुवर्विा और त्र्वररत
वनपिान के वलए, चुनार्व न्यायाविकरणों के बीच मामलों का आर्वांिन या पुनरार्वांिन कर सकती ह।ै
5. पररसीमन
दकसी भी वनर्वाफवचत उम्मीदर्वार के चुनार्व, पररणाम या घोषणा को चुनौती देने अथर्वा परू े चुनार्व को रद्द करन े की
माांग करने र्वाली प्रत्येक चुनार्वी यावचका, पररणाम की घोषणा की तारीि स ेतीस ददनों के भीतर दायर की िाएगी।
बशते दक, उन राज्य बार काउांवसलों के सांबांि म ेंविनके पररणाम इस अविसूचना के प्रकाशन की तारीि स े
पहल े ही घोवषत दकए िा चुके ह,ैं चनु ार्वी यावचका आविकाररक रािपत्र म ें इस अविसूचना के प्रकाशन की तारीि
स े पांद्रह ददनों के भीतर दायर की िाएगी।[भाग III—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
6. िल्ु क
प्रत्येक चुनार्वी यावचका के साथ बार काउांवसल ऑर् इांवडया के िाते म ें₹30,000/- की प्रदिया शल्ु क िमा करन ेका
प्रमाण सांलग्न होना अवनर्वायफ होगा, एर्व ांअन्य जिकायतों और/या आिेदनों के साथ 5,000 रुपय ेका िुल्क िमा करना
आिश्यक होगा, िैसा दक 10 अक्िूबर, 2023 को भारत के रािपत्र म ें अविसूवचत वनयमों के तहत पहल े स े ही
वनिाफररत ह।ै दकसी भी चनु ार्वी यावचका को तब तक उवचत रूप स ेदायर नहीं माना िाएगा िब तक दक उसके साथ
ऐस े िमा का प्रमाण सांलग्न न हो, बशते दक सांबांवित रिब्यूनल द्वारा इस सांबांि में कोई अन्य आदेश पाररत न दकया
गया हो।
7. वनस्तारण के वलए समय-सीमा
गरठत रिब्यूनल चुनार्वी यावचकाओं का वनपिान यथासांभर्व शीघ्रता स े करने का प्रयास करेंगे और िहाां तक
व्यार्वहाररक हो, दायर करन े की तारीि स ेअविकतम छह सप्ताह की अर्ववि के भीतर करेंगे।
रिब्यूनल अपनी स्र्वयां की प्रदिया को वर्ववनयवमत कर सकता ह,ै अनार्वश्यक स्थगन (Adjournments) को कम कर
सकता ह,ै ररकॉड फ मगां र्वा सकता ह,ै चुनार्वी दस्तार्वेि प्रस्ततु करन े का वनदशे दे सकता ह,ै प्रारांवभक मुद्दों पर वनणफय
ल ेसकता ह,ै और चुनार्वी वर्वर्वादों के त्र्वररत और प्रभार्वी न्यायवनणफयन के वलए आर्वश्यक प्रदियात्मक वनदेश पाररत
कर सकता ह।ै
8. ररकाडष और सहयोग
चुनार्व प्रदिया स े िुड े सभी राज्य बार काउांवसल, वनर्वाफचन अविकारी, सहायक ररिर्नगिं ऑदर्सर, पयफर्वेक्षक,
अविकारी और अन्य प्राविकारी, रिब्यूनल और बार काउांवसल ऑर् इांवडया तथा माननीय सर्वोच्च न्यायालय या
रिब्यूनल के वनदशे ों के तहत काय फकरन ेर्वाल ेदकसी भी प्राविकारी को पणू फ सहयोग प्रदान करेंग;े और मागां े िान ेपर,
र्व े ररकॉड,फ चुनार्वी दस्तार्वेि, पररणाम पत्रक, मतपत्र स े सांबांवित सामग्री (Ballot-related material), पत्राचार
और अन्य प्रासांवगक दस्तार्वेि प्रस्तुत करेंगे।
9. स्ट्पष्टीकरण िारी करन ेकी िजक्त
बार काउांवसल ऑर् इांवडया इस अविसूचना को प्रभार्वी बनाने और चुनार्वी वर्वर्वादों का समय पर वनपिान सुवनवित
करने के वलए ऐस े प्रशासवनक स्पष्टीकरण, आर्वांिन आदेश, र्ाइललांग वनदेश, रविस्िी वनदशे या पररणामी वनदशे
िारी कर सकती ह ैिो आर्वश्यक हों।
यह अविसूचना तत्काल प्रभार्व स े लाग ू होगी।
श्रीमंतो सेन, प्रमुख सजचि
[जिज्ञापन-III/4/असा./113/2026-27]4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4]
BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 25th May, 2026
F. No. BCI:D: 3307/2026.— Pursuant to the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Savita Devi
@ Savita Dhanda & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., W.P. (C) No. 589 of 2026, the Bar Council of India hereby notifies
the following directions for the election disputes arising out of the elections to the State Bar Councils held in the year
2026.
1. Constitution of Election Tribunals for State Bar Council Elections, 2026
For the purpose of adjudication of election petitions arising out of the elections to the State Bar Councils held
with effect from the year 2026, the following Election Tribunals shall function as Election Tribunals of the Bar
Council of India:
Election Tribunal I
(a) Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta, former Judge, Supreme Court of India, as Chairperson;
(b) Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, former Chief Justice, Andhra Pradesh High Court, as
Member;
(c) Ms. Mahalakshmi Pavani, Senior Advocate, as Member.
Election Tribunal II
(a) Hon’ble Ms. Justice Hima Kohli, former Judge, Supreme Court of India, as Chairperson;
(b) Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, former Chief Justice, Jharkhand High Court, as Member;
(c) Ms. Kaveeta Wadia, Senior Advocate, as Member.
2. Continuance of earlier pending matters
The constitution of the aforesaid Tribunals shall not, by itself, disturb election petitions, applications or
proceedings relating to earlier elections or earlier assigned matters which are already pending before any
existing Election Tribunal, including the Tribunal headed by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajendra Menon, former
Chief Justice, High Court of Delhi, along with its Members. Such pending matters shall continue before the
Tribunal to which they already stand assigned, unless the Bar Council of India, for administrative reasons
orders otherwise.
3. Filing of Election Petitions
Every election petition relating to the State Bar Council elections held with effect from the year 2026 shall be
presented before the Secretary, Election Tribunal, Bar Council of India, who shall also act as the
Secretary/Registry for the purpose of receipt, scrutiny and registration of such election petitions, complaints,
applications or representations.
4. Allocation of matters
Upon presentation and registration of an election petition, the Bar Council of India shall allocate the matter to
the concerned Election Tribunal (or the High Powered Election Supervisory Committee constituted by
Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its Order dated 18.11.2025 passed in M. Varadhan v. Union of India & Ors., W.P.
(C) 1319 of 2023), having regard to the nature of the dispute, pendency, convenience and workload. The Bar
Council of India may, for administrative convenience and expeditious disposal, allocate or reallocate matters
among the Election Tribunals.
5. Limitation
Every election petition seeking to question or set aside an election, result or declaration of any returned
candidate, or the election as a whole, shall be filed within thirty days from the date of declaration of the result.
Provided that, in respect of those State Bar Councils whose results have already been declared before
the date of publication of this notification, the election petition shall be filed within fifteen days from the date
of publication of this notification in official gazette.[भाग III—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
6. Fee
Every election petition shall be accompanied by proof of deposit of process fee of Rs.30,000/- in the account
of the Bar Council of India and other complaints and/or applications shall be required to accompany a fee of
Rs. 5,000/-as already prescribed under the Regulations notified in the Gazette of India on 10th October, 2023.
The fee shall be payable to the Registrar of the Tribunal. No election petition shall be treated as duly filed
unless accompanied by proof of such deposit, subject to such orders as may be passed by the concerned Election
Tribunal.
7. Time frame for disposal
The Election Tribunals shall endeavour to dispose of election petitions as expeditiously as possible and, as far
as practicable, within a maximum period of six weeks from the date of filing.
The Election Tribunal may regulate its own procedure, curtail unnecessary adjournments, call for records,
direct production of election papers, decide preliminary issues, and pass such procedural directions as may be
necessary for expeditious and effective adjudication of election disputes.
8. Records and cooperation
All State Bar Councils, Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, Observers, officers and other
authorities connected with the election process shall extend full cooperation to the Election Tribunal and the
Bar Council of India and any authority acting under the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court or the Election
Tribunal, and shall produce records, election papers, result sheets, ballot-related material, correspondence and
other relevant documents as and when requisitioned.
9. Power to issue clarifications
The Bar Council of India may issue such administrative clarifications, allocation orders, filing instructions,
registry directions or consequential directions as may be necessary for giving effect to this notification and for
ensuring timely disposal of election disputes.
This notification shall come into force with immediate effect.
SRIMANTO SEN, Principal Secy.
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./113/2026-27]
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.