The high-stakes election to the Bar Council of Delhi took another sharp turn on Monday morning, as the poll committee rolled back the suspension of 63 candidates who had been pulled up for alleged violations of election norms.
Just a day earlier, suspension notices had been served on 79 aspirants over suspected breaches of the model code of conduct. By Monday, after receiving written explanations from 63 of them, the committee decided to lift the suspensions, allowing those candidates to rejoin the contest.
Sixteen others, however, remain under scrutiny. The panel has granted them an additional 12 hours to respond before a final call is taken.
The controversy erupted after election observers reported what the committee described as “incontrovertible evidence” of rule-breaking around polling zones. The alleged infractions were not minor. They ranged from sloganeering near booths and distribution of campaign material, to erecting tents and flex hoardings, and even the presence of unauthorised individuals near voting areas.
Among those initially suspended were two designated senior advocates, K.K. Manan and Ramesh Gupta, underscoring the breadth of the crackdown.
Overseeing the process is former Delhi High Court judge Justice Talwant Singh, serving as the returning officer. He observed that such activities disrupted the orderly conduct of polling and created physical obstruction for voters.
What began as a disciplinary sweep has now turned into a selective reprieve. With most candidates restored and a handful awaiting decision, the battle for the Bar Council of Delhi has regained momentum — but under sharper scrutiny than ever.
