The Bar Council of India has dissolved the Bar Council of Delhi, stripping it of its powers and transferring all administrative control to a newly formed three-member Special Committee. The committee’s immediate mandate: clean up the mess, complete verification of advocates, and hold elections by January 31, 2026 — the deadline set by the Supreme Court for all State Bar Councils across India.
The BCI’s move follows years of missed deadlines and incomplete verification drives that have repeatedly stalled the electoral process. The council noted that despite a series of extensions, advisories, and reminders dating back to mid-2023, the Bar Council of Delhi failed to submit verified rolls or reconcile discrepancies in its data.
In its directive issued on October 10, the BCI named Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma as chairperson of the Special Committee, with Senior Advocate Maninder Singh and Advocate Neeraj, President of the Central Delhi Court Bar Association, as members.
Describing the step as “curative and time-bound,” the BCI stated that the intervention was necessary to enforce judicial orders and ensure that Delhi’s legal fraternity is represented by a legitimately elected body. The committee will take charge of all funds, staff, and records, and will also oversee disciplinary and welfare matters.
The BCI’s letter made it clear that obstruction or non-cooperation from any quarter will invite serious action. The Delhi Bar Council’s term, initially extended in June 2023 owing to pandemic-related disruptions, had long expired — and multiple reminders in November 2024 and March 2025 failed to bring compliance.
With the Supreme Court watching closely and demanding a status report by the end of this month, the committee now holds the reins of one of India’s most influential bar councils — and a tight clock is already ticking.
