Velmurugan Bar Council Member: *Copy of Representation Given by Bar Council members Thiru Varadhan, Chandramohan, D.Selvam , M. Velmurugan & KadiravanTo High Powered Committee constituted by Honble Supreme Court regarding COP Issues and early declaration of election date for State Bar Council.*

[10/01, 09:18] Velmurugan Bar Council Member: *Copy of Representation Given by Bar Council members Thiru Varadhan, Chandramohan, D.Selvam , M. Velmurugan & KadiravanTo High Powered Committee constituted by Honble Supreme Court regarding COP Issues and early declaration of election date for State Bar Council.*
[10/01, 09:19] Sekarreporter: From,
N’lembers
Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherrv
Chennai 600104
The Hon ble rvfr. Justice Rajiv Sakthar (Retd.)
Chairman
High Powered Election Committee
Bar Council of India
Sub: Request to conduct Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Election strictly in terms of the Hon’ble Supreme
Court Order dated 18.11.2025- Reg;
Respected Sir,
We the members of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puduchcrrv respectfullv submit the following for your kind consideration.
1 . The Hon ‘ble Supreme Court by its Order dated 18. 1 1.2025 has categoricallv held that pendency- of verification of law degrees or Certificate of Practice cannot bc a oround to defer or stall the elections of State Bar Councils and has directed that the High Powered Election Committee and State Bar Councils shall strictlv adhere to the time schedule prescribed therein.
2. In Paragraph 8 of the said Order the Hon ‘ble Supreme Court has specificallv held that verification of genuineness of degrees of enrolled advocates being a continuing process cannot be a valid ground to keep the elections of the State Bar Councils in abeyance and that mere pendency of verification cannot be an impediment to the conduct of elections.
3. In spite of the above categorical directions the Secretan.” of the
Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has issued a Circular dated 06.12.2025 unilaterally directing advocates to submit Certificate of Practice on or before 10.01.2026 without anv authorisation of the General Council which has resulted in grave anxiety and uncertainty among the advocate community regarding their voting rights.
4. It is submitted that about 54000 advocates had already submitted their Certificate of Practice applications in the year
2018 along with requisite fees and documents but till date Certificates of Practice have not been issued to them therebv causing large scale confusion and stress. The lawyers throughout state are put to lot of stress and trouble due to above said circular dt. 06/ 12/2025 issued without consultation and authorization with the stake holders. In this regard the
General Council of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and
in its meeting held on 05.01.2026 unanimously
resolved that all advocates who had voting rights in the 2018 elections shall be permitted to vote in the forthcoming elections without insisting upon fresh Certificates of Practice and that advocates enrolled after 2016 who have passed the All India Bar Examination and submitted declaration forms shall also be permitted to vote.
5. The Hon ble Supreme Court has prescribed the following mandatory model time schedule to be followed for each State Bar Council election:
Preparation and publication of provisional electoral rolls after or pending verification within 15 days from the date of election notification
Inviting objections to the electoral rolls within 7 days thereafter
Publication of final electoral rolls within 7 days thereafter
Filing of nominations within 7 days thereafter
Scrutiny of nomination documents within 2 days thereafter
Publication of list of candidates within 1 day thereafter
Withdrawal of candidature and publication of final list of candidates within 3 days thereafter
Elections as per preferential system of votes within 20 days thereafter
The total process requires a minimum of 62 days excluding counting and declaration of results and therefore any further
delay would render compliance with the Hon ble Supreme Court mandate impossible.
6. . In these circumstances we most respectfully pray that your good self may be pleased consider the plight of the entire legal fraternity of the state and the contestants throughout the state who are the real stake holders and also take on record the
Resolution of the General Council of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry dated 05.01.2026 and direct that all eligible advocates in terms of the Hon ble Supreme Court’s Order dated 18.11.2025 be included in the electoral roll and permitted to exercise their franchise and further be pleased to fix and notify the election schedule forthwith in accordance with the mandatory time schedule prescribed by the Hon ble Supreme Court so as to ensure that the elections of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are conducted and concluded strictly in accordance with the directions of the
Hon’ble Supreme Co and thus render justice.
q) 1202A