Supreme Court Extends SCBA Executive Committee Tenure to Two Years From 2027

The Supreme Court has reformed the electoral process of the Supreme Court Bar Association, extending the executive committee's term to two years, effective from 2027, with a new set of eligibility criteria for voters.

The Supreme Court has enacted significant changes to the electoral framework of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), extending the tenure of its executive committee to two years starting in 2027. This reform aims to provide stability within the association's leadership and is among several measures passed on Friday.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan also introduced a mandatory one-year cooling-off period post-term. The court granted an additional month to hold SCBA elections for the smooth implementation of these reforms, except the extended tenure.

The eligibility to vote was also revised. Advocates must have appeared at least 50 times in the Supreme Court, with women requiring 30 appearances and advocates with disabilities needing five. Appearances must be primarily physical, as verified by court records.

For Advocates-on-Record, an average of 20 yearly filings is set as eligibility, reduced to five for those with disabilities. Senior advocates in the National Capital Region are eligible to vote, including those residing in adjacent areas like Delhi, Gurugram, and Noida. These decisions follow recommendations from a former judicial committee led by ex-judge Justice L Nageswara Rao.