The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Delhi Police to secure the presence of advocate Mukut Nath Verma before the Court and also permitted use of coercive measures by police if required..Verma is accused of making defamatory statements against the judges and an election committee setup for Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) polls..A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan noted that on October 7, 2025, bailable warrants had been issued against Verma for his appearance before the Court. However, an office report revealed that that warrant could not be executed. Considering the same, the Court issued the following direction, "On October 7, 2025, Dr Verma was asked to enter appearance before this court through bailable warrants. As per office report the bailable warrant could not be served upon him. We direct Commissioner of Delhi police to ensure his presence on the next date of hearing. For that if required lawful coercive measures be also taken.".The Court was hearing a plea related to the functioning of SCBA. Senior Advocate Vijay Hansaria submitted that Verma had continued to file cases and make "scandalous allegations" against judges and lawyers.The Court was also told that Verma had failed to comply with the Court's earlier directions, including one for placing his allegations on record on an affidavit. Hansaria also submitted that even the police had failed to serve bailable warrants on Verma..In May 2025, the Supreme Court had directed Verma to file an affidavit to substantiate his allegations of irregularities in SCBA elections and warned that any failure to do so could invite coercive action. Vague or unsubstantiated allegations against office-bearers and judges would not be entertained, the Court had said. Later, on October 7, 2025, the Court issued bailable warrants against Verma after he remained absent from proceedings despite repeated directions. .Meanwhile, the Court on Friday also heard suggestions seeking reservation in bar bodies for members with disabilities, relaxation of eligibility norms, rotational representation for women, and inclusion of gender neutrality and ability inclusion as core objectives of the Bar Association.CJI Kant instructed that all suggestions be routed through advocate Pragya Baghel for collation. Advocate Sneha Kalita, placed her suggestions on record and highlighted that the SCBA has never had a woman President in its 76 years. Therefore, she argued for rotational representation. However, another woman lawyer said that such a post has to be on the basis of election and not reservation.CJI Kant also said that the objective should be to create an environment where everyone can compete and it should not be that someone is completely dependent on reservation for occupying a top post."Environment created should not look like one is completely dependant for the post. Every time one cannot depend on reservation," he said.Senior Advocate Hansaria described Kalita's proposal on reservation for persons with disabilities as praiseworthy, with the CJI stating that the Court was under an obligation to create enabling infrastructure..The top court directed that all suggestions, including those uploaded on the SCBA website and those submitted by the election committee, headed by Hansaria, be compiled in a tabulated format for consideration on the next date. .[Read Live Coverage].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.
