The stage is set for a crucial electoral exercise in Kerala’s legal fraternity. Voting to elect members to the Bar Council of Kerala will take place on April 17, 2026, with polling scheduled between 10 AM and 5 PM at booths across the State.
The announcement comes from a High-Powered Election Committee constituted under the directions of the Supreme Court of India, which is overseeing the process to ensure uniformity and compliance with judicial guidelines.
23 Seats in Play, Women’s Quota in Focus
This year’s election will fill 23 seats. In line with interim directions from the apex court, a minimum of 30 per cent of these positions must be occupied by women — translating into five reserved seats.
The seat distribution has been structured carefully:
-
12 seats for advocates with at least 10 years of standing on the State Roll
-
6 seats for advocates with less than 10 years of practice
-
5 seats reserved for women candidates under the 30 per cent quota
The total council strength remains 25, with the remaining two members to be co-opted by the Bar Council of India.
Importantly, there will be a single common ballot paper — no separate voting sheet for women candidates.
Timeline: From Voter List to Counting Day
The process kicks off with the publication of the provisional voters’ list on February 28. Corrections and objections can be submitted until March 7, after which the final roll will be released on March 14.
Nomination forms will be available between March 14 and March 16. Aspirants must file their papers by March 23. After scrutiny and withdrawals, the final list of candidates will be published on March 26.
Vote counting will begin the day after polling, on April 18.
Candidates entering the fray must pay a non-refundable nomination fee of ₹1.25 lakh — a requirement previously affirmed by the Supreme Court in proceedings arising out of Bar Council of India v Prahlad Sharma & Ors.
Court-Monitored Oversight
The elections are being conducted under judicial watch, pursuant to orders in M Vardhan v Union of India & Anr. A three-member High-Powered Election Committee is supervising the process, comprising retired Justice Rajiv Shakder, Senior Advocate E Om Prakash and Advocate Dr Amit George.
Appeals from the committee’s decisions will lie before a separate supervisory body led by former judges Justice Subhanshu Dhulia and Justice Ravi Shanker Jha, along with senior counsel V Giri.
Former Kerala High Court judge Justice VG Arun has been appointed Returning Officer to steer the mechanics of polling.
Clean-Up of Electoral Rolls
In a parallel move, a revised preliminary voters’ list has been circulated. Advocates have been asked to flag corrections, additions or booth-change requests through designated online forms by February 26.
Bar Associations across the State have also been tasked with verifying the rolls and identifying names of deceased members or those who have ceased practice — an attempt to ensure that the final electoral register reflects the active Bar.
With judicial scrutiny hovering over every stage and structural reforms shaping representation, this election is more than a routine poll — it is a recalibration moment for Kerala’s legal community.
