[SCBA elections 2024] President should be completely apolitical: Priya Hingorani, the only woman candidate

The only woman candidate in the race for President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Senior Advocate Priya Hingorani is candid about how the role will be hands-on for whoever ultimately wins..Hingorani has previously served as the youngest Vice-President of the SCBA. She was also the first woman to be elected as Secretary of the association.In conversation with Bar & Bench's Debayan Roy, she stresses that younger members of the Bar need handholding to succeed in the profession..[Watch video].Debayan Roy [DR]: Why did you decide to contest for the post of President this year?.Priya Hingorani (PH): I have been an office bearer of the SCBA in different capacities over the years since 1991. I was the first woman Secretary, was Member (Executive) and Vice-President, the second lady to have been so. The logical position for me was to apply for President. I have come up the ranks and seen the Bar develop and grow. I felt the need of the hour was a woman President, and I wanted to tackle issues that the Bar has been facing for a while now..DR: What are some of the issues?.PH: We find that with so many lawyers entering the profession, not out of compulsion, particularly from the times of Covid, there are issues of professional conduct, health and financial issues, car parking etc. In my term as Secretary, we had started placement cells for young lawyers; that generation needs handholding from the Bar. So I would bring back that initiative. Second would be a mentorship program. It is our duty to mentor the younger members and gauge their areas of interest, start a professional and educational development program, which I have started across courts so they can hone their advocacy skills.There are many executive duties too, it is only by holding general body meetings that you interact with members of the Bar and can address their issues.My parents were senior lawyers at the Supreme Court. My mother entered the profession in 1956 when women organisations were formed to address the issues. Today, many more have been formed across the country.There is not enough representation among office bearers. The CJI had flagged this as well for various bar councils. So to bring gender inclusivity is something I would work on, as there is also support for this from the Bar.Then there is the issue of hygiene etc for those with disabilities who need support. While the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court are considered as the prime places in terms of facilities, we have to take it down to other courts..DR: Last year, we saw fissures in the SCBA where the President was writing letters to the Chief Justice of India about some cases and the members distanced themselves from it. How do you see that?.PH: According to me, the SCBA President should be completely apolitical. It should be someone working only for the Bar's interests. These kind of letters are not precedented - the way you would write to the CJI and the Prime Minister. You should only put forth the decisions of the general body and the Bar. These decisions have to be taken by the general body, the issues have to be placed before them and writing such letters is not the right thing to do..DR: What would be the immediate areas you would look to focus on if elected?.PH: Be it parking, relationship with the Registry and the Bench, medical insurance, chambers, these are all there as priority. No President has a magic wand. We have to go back to the general body to see how these issues ought to be addressed. We have to have the funds and land for new chambers. We have to work with the government and the CJI, then look at allotments. When we talk of insurance, we have to have funds for that. Many lawyers cannot even pay the premium. During my Secretary tenure, we got a grant of ₹1 crore; today that is ₹5.5 crore as a fixed deposit, which can be used for welfare of members.Continuing professional development of lawyers, handholding younger members of the bar, more inclusivity measures like Mitti Cafe, more sensitivity, are the other issues.The library needs to be improved, there has not been an audit. It is important to have a library with the latest tools, as otherwise, lawyers do not have any other space to research and learn. It is going to be hands-full for whoever is President, and they need to be hands-on to address these issues..Disclaimer: This interview was conducted on May 14. Since the model code of conduct came into force, candidates were estopped from campaigning with effect from 10 AM on May 15 till polling closed at 6:00 PM on May 16.