The State Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has unveiled a fresh election timeline following a significant directive from the Supreme Court of India. This development marks a crucial step toward resolving long-pending elections for legal professionals across the region.
Supreme Court Directive Spurs Action
The revised schedule comes as a direct response to the Supreme Court's order dated November 18 in the case of M Varadhan versus the Union of India. This landmark case aims to ensure the timely completion of Bar Council elections nationwide that have been delayed for extended periods. The apex court has scheduled the next hearing in this matter for January 6, 2026.
Revised Election Timeline and Process
The council issued the new election plan on Tuesday through Justice Jaishree Thakur, former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court who serves as the designated returning officer. The schedule received formal approval from Justice Ranjit Singh, who chairs the high-powered election committee post-retirement.
The election process will extend across late 2025 and January 2026, providing ample time for all procedural requirements. Significant election activities including nomination filings and scrutiny proceedings will be conducted at Law Bhawan in Sector 37-A, Chandigarh, which functions as the official office of the election committee.
Significance for Legal Community
As the apex licensing and regulatory authority for legal practitioners in Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the State Bar Council's elections hold substantial importance for the region's legal framework. The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the critical need for timely democratic processes within professional legal bodies.
This move ensures that the legal community in northern India will have proper representation through a transparent and court-monitored election process, setting a precedent for other pending bar council elections across the country.
