Nagpur: A petition has been filed before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court demanding implementation of the ‘One Bar, One Vote’ policy in the forthcoming High Court Bar Association, Nagpur elections. The plea has been moved by senior advocate Mohan Sudame along with advocates Swapnajeet Sanyal, Makarand Agnihotri, and Neeraj Khandewale.
The petitioners argued that despite a Supreme Court directive issued on September 26, 2011, and its subsequent adoption by the Bar Council of India (BCI) on July 25, 2015, the policy has not yet been enforced in Nagpur. The BCI had circulated the guideline to all Bar Associations and State Bar Councils, emphasizing that each advocate should be allowed to cast a vote in only one Bar Association election.
According to the petition, the rule is crucial to curb electoral malpractices and ensure transparency in Bar Association elections, as multiple voting by members of different associations undermines the fairness of the process.
The matter is scheduled to be heard on Thursday, October 16, before a division bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajnish Vyas. The respondents in the case include the High Court Bar Association, Nagpur, its Election Committee, the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, and the Bar Council of India.
The High Court Bar Association elections are slated for November 28, and the outcome of this petition could have a direct impact on the conduct of the polls.
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