SC Bar Association Decides To Hold Elections On Feb 27 In A Hybrid Manner

OVERVIEW 

· The Election Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBC) decided to hold an election to elect the new Executive Committee of SCBC on February 27, 2021.

· As per the resolution, the members are also required to furnish or update their email ids and phone numbers by February 7 and if not by then online voting cannot be availed.

· The election is planned to be held in a hybrid manner where the voters could cast the vote both in physical and digital voting. However, holding physical voting will be subject to the advice of the Health Advisory Committee constituted by the Chief Justice of India.

· The Election Committee held a meeting with the Health Advisory Committee on January 27, 2021, in which the Health Advisory Committee assured an "expeditious consideration" as to the feasibility of conducting partial physical voting in the proposed hybrid elections.

· As per the resolution of the Committee, a new draft voters list should be immediately published on the SCBC website and notice board so as to invite objections and inclusion or exclusion of a name in the list.

· A final voters list will be published on February 8th.

· "From the final list, the members who opt for physical voting shall submit in writing up to 22.02.2021 that they shall vote physically whereupon the option to vote online shall not be available to such members. This option may be exercised carefully as no change shall be allowed once this option for physical voting is communicated," states the resolution.

· The Supreme Court Bar Association was in the news earlier this week after Mr. Dushyant Dave, former President of SCBA tendered his resignation on Thursday.

· The Executive Committee also resolved that the Hon'ble CJI S.A. Bobde be requested to commence a physical hearing from 1st February 2021.

· The members of the Executive Committee, with a majority, noted that in the view of tremendous hardships being faced by the advocates in the hearings being conducted virtually, the Committee was of the opinion that the physical hearings must be resumed.

· The Committee, therefore, requested the CJI that in the event of the effect of the pandemic being declined and the decision of the government for rolling out the covid vaccine, it would be necessary for the Supreme Court to “restore the optimum working of the judicial system in the larger public interest”.

DATES TO LOOK FOR

· FEB 9 - FEB 12 - Nominations for various posts may be filed in physical mode by members whose names appear in the Final Voters List.

· FEB 13 - Draft List of candidates shall be displayed on the notice boards and website of SCBA.

· FEB 15 AND FEB 16 - Objections/ withdrawals to nominations may be submitted in the office of SCBA.

· FEB 17 - Election Committee will rule upon objections to the nominations where after the final list of contesting candidates shall be displayed on notice board and website.

· FEB 22 - Last date for exercising the option to vote physically, subject to permission.

· FEB 25 - Debate of candidates for the post of President and Hony. Secretary shall be held in virtual mode.

· FEB 27- The polling date for both online voting and if permitted, physical voting.