Delhi HC rejects plea for reservation in Bar Council of Delhi for lawyers with less than 10 years' practice

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to entertain a petition seeking reservations of six seats in the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) for advocates with less than 10 years of practise.

The petitioner, advocate Ramesh Chandra Singh, enrolled with BCD in the year 2022. He contested for the BCD elections that were held in February 2026.

Justice Amit Bansal refused to entertain his plea today after noting that Singh was aware of the BCD reservation policy and yet contested the elections without protest.

The Court said that he cannot be allowed to challenge the BCD's December election notification at this stage.

“It is an undisputed position that the petitioner was a contestant in the BCD election that was held in February 2026. He was aware of the notification dated December 24, 2025, in terms of which reservation had been made only for advocates with more than ten years practice and lady advocates. Yet he chose to contest the elections without protesting in any manner. Now the elections have already been conducted and the counting process is on. At this stage, the petitioner cannot be permitted to challenge the election notification in terms of which the elections are held. In terms of the Supreme Court judgment, once the election process has begun, the courts cannot interfere. In view thereof, the present petition is dismissed as not maintainable,” the Court said. 

The Court also rejected the advocate’s argument for proportional representation of all categories of advocates.

There is no vested right for advocates to seek such reservation, the judge made it clear.

“Merely because reservation has been made for advocates with more than ten years experience and lady advocates, it does not create any vested right in favour of advocates with 10 years experience including the petitioner to seek a reservation. Accordingly, I do not find any merit in the petition,” the Court stated. 

It was submitted on behalf of the advocate that as per the BCD election notification for twenty-three members, twelve seats were reserved for advocates with at least 10 years of practice and five seats for women candidates.

He contended that the remaining six seats should be reserved for advocates with less than 10 years of practice. He stated that non-reservation of seats for advocates with less than 10 years of practice violates right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

The Counsel appearing for BCD submitted that the petition is belated as BCD elections have already been held and the counting process was in progress.