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Six Candidates Challenge SCBA Election Results, Seek Recount of Ballots in Supreme Court
Six legal professionals who contested the (SCBA) elections for the post of Executive Member have approached the , seeking directions for a recount of ballot papers. The , filed in the pending case v & Anr , alleges serious irregularities and manipulation during the counting process, which, if proven, could undermine the democratic integrity of one of the country’s most prestigious bar associations.
The applicants—, , , , , and —contend that the counting was marred by the presence of interested volunteers, inconsistent tallying methods, and a hurried declaration of results that ignored . They have urged the Court to set aside the results for the Executive Member posts and order a fresh, under the supervision of the .
The Chronology of the Disputed Election
According to the plea, polling for the SCBA elections took place on . Counting for the posts of President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, Joint Secretary, and Treasurer was completed on the same day. However, counting for the Executive Member positions began only on the evening of , continued through , and the results were finally declared on . This delayed and staggered process itself raised questions, the applicants argue.
The real controversy, however, centers on the conduct of volunteers. The application states that “advocates who actively campaigned alongside certain candidates were permitted to participate as volunteers in the counting process.” These volunteers allegedly manipulated the announcement of vote tallies at the end of each round. Specifically, the applicants claim that the volunteers “used to increase the numbers of the votes cast by making wrongful pronouncements at the end of each round” and simultaneously “used to decrease the numbers of the votes cast to the applicants.”
As a result, the votes of candidates aligned with these volunteers “got substantially increased,” while the applicants’ votes “got substantially decreased.” The applicants maintain that legitimate candidates were prevented from competing fairly.
Representations Ignored Despite Repeated Objections
The applicants submitted two formal representations to the Election Committee. The first, dated , was filed by candidate . She pointed out a persistent discrepancy between the votes announced at the conclusion of each round and the tally she had independently maintained. Her representation noted: “Every time when round is completed the total number of the votes cast to the undersigned is declared and the difference in the total number occurs as the undersigned has also been throughout noting down the declaration of the votes cast to her.”
She added that the discrepancy had been orally brought to the Committee’s attention during counting, but “no heed has been paid and rather it has been ignored.”
A second joint representation, dated , was signed by several candidates and raised specific grievances: the presence of partisan volunteers, changes in tallying practices mid-process, the discovery of unaccounted blank ballots whose status was unclear, a general lack of transparency, suppression of the formal complaint regarding manipulation, and a rushed counting process. Despite these objections, the Election Committee “neither responded to nor resolved the grievances,” and instead “hastily declared the result afternoon at about 4 pm on .”
Legal Submissions and the Question of Fairness
The application emphasizes that the candidate placed last among those elected as Executive Member secured 436 votes. The applicants contend that “there has been every likelihood that if the fair countings have been done the applicants herein had been elected.” This assertion underscores the potential material impact of the alleged irregularities.
The plea invokes a fundamental democratic principle: “Fairness is hallmark of the entire functions in democratic system and certainly the holding the election.” It criticizes the Election Committee’s silence and inaction, arguing that such conduct “cannot be appreciated in the facts and circumstances of the present matter.”
The applicants seek a declaration that the result for the Executive Member posts is “null and void,” along with a direction for a recount of all relevant ballot papers. They also request any other directions necessary to ensure a fair determination of the election outcome.
Broader Implications for Bar Association Governance
This challenge comes at a time when the credibility of internal bar elections is under increasing scrutiny. The SCBA, as the representative body of advocates practicing in the Supreme Court, plays a critical role in shaping legal discourse, advocating for lawyers’ welfare, and engaging with the judiciary on matters of institutional importance. Disputes over can erode trust among members and impair the association’s ability to function effectively.
If the Supreme Court finds merit in the allegations, it may set a precedent for how bar election disputes are adjudicated—requiring stricter oversight of counting procedures, clearer rules on volunteer participation, and more transparent reporting of results. On the other hand, if the Court dismisses the application, it could reinforce the finality of election committee decisions, barring late challenges absent compelling evidence.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court now has the opportunity to examine whether the adhered to the . The six candidates have laid out a detailed narrative of alleged manipulation, supported by . The Court’s response will be closely watched by the legal community, as it will not only resolve the fate of these specific candidates but also signal the standards expected in bar association elections across the country.
The matter is listed in the pending case v & Anr (Diary No. 13992 of 2023), and the Court is likely to hear the in the coming weeks. Until then, the cloud over the SCBA’s election process remains.
