SCBA Election Update: PH Parekh elected President for the sixth time; New President says Justice Ganguly ought to resign

The results of the recently held elections to the 21 posts of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) were declared yesterday. Senior Advocate P.H. Parekh has been elected as the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) defeating another Senior Advocate Kailash Vasdev by 143 votes..Parekh, who has been elected President for the sixth time said, “I am overwhelmed by the support shown by the members of the Bar electing me the President for the sixth time which brings on my shoulder much greater responsibility. I will try and do my best.”.Talking about his plans for the next year, Parekh said, “My main agenda is to get as many chambers as possible on the Pragati Maidan land. So far, the Government has agreed to finance only 250 chambers.”.“Another concern is that a lot of junior lawyers who have come from outside Delhi do not have enough work or good quality work. We will try and get them join the chambers of senior members of the Bar so that they can get financial support and quality work”, said Parekh..On the allegations against justice Ganguly, Parekh said, “As the President of the SCBA, I still have to discuss the matter. Personally, I found Justice Ganguly to be a good and courteous judge and hold him in high regard but if three Supreme Court judges have given a report which says there is prima facie evidence of unwanted sexual advances, then he should resign from the post of Chairman of WBHRC.”.Parekh last served as the President in 2011 when he defeated Senior Advocates Ram Jethmalani and Adish Aggarwala..Parekh is very proud of the fact that more than 350 junior lawyers have worked at his chambers who have gone on to become judges and leading lawyers working both within India and abroad. He stated that, “This is my biggest asset.”.Other office bearers who have been elected include V Shekhar (Vice-President), Aishwarya Bhati (Secretary), Dr. Sandeep Singh (Assistant Secretary), Vikash Bansal (Treasurer) and Rajesh Pathak (Assistant Treasurer)..Talking about the work that needs to be done, Bhati (pictured) said, “We need to work on many fronts including a better canteen, parking and better facilities for the lady members of the Bar”, said Bhati.