Supreme Court pulls up P&H Bar Council for delay in nominating ex-Judge to monitor Haryana Bar polls

The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the Chairman of the Haryana Bar Council a five-day deadline to suggest the name of a High Court judge who could monitor the conduct of Bar Association elections in Haryana, amid allegations of irregularities in their conduct. .A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh was hearing two pleas alleging mismanagement in the conduct of Bar elections in Haryana. The Court noted that it had already suggested that a former High Court judge could be appointed to constitute an Election Tribunal, which could oversee the conduct of the elections.Although the Haryana Bar Council was asked to suggest the name of such a judge, no response has been received yet, the Court observed yesterday. "Who is appearing for State Bar Council? What were our suggestions and what is you response? We have suggested something. Tell us, what are your clear instructions? Enough is enough now," Justice Kant added..The Court proceeded to direct the Bar Council's Chairman to submit his response within five days. "As of now, it is difficult to say whether there is any prima facie merit in the allegations and counter allegations. However, in order to ensure that the Bar Council, as a statutory body, remains above Board, we have suggested on the previous date of hearing that they may nominate a former Judge of the High Court, especially if anyone who is well-conversant with the functioning of the Bar Association/Bar Council, to act as the Election Tribunal, to conduct State wide elections. We are still awaiting the response from the State Bar Council. We direct the Chairman of the Bar Council to submit a proposal in this regard within five days," the Court ordered. .One of the petitions before the Court challenges the disqualification of an advocate from contesting the Karnal Bar polls. The other alleges that there were irregularities in the Rohtak Bar Association elections. Both matters were heard together yesterday. Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy appeared yesterday for the petitioner in the case concerning the Rohtak Bar elections. "I am appearing in the matter pertaining to Rohtak. Same matter. Both matters are tagged together. This is the same issue—irregularities and decline in the standards," she said..The matter will be heard next on May 27. .[Read Order].[Read Live Coverage]