Delhi High Court Intervenes in Shahdara Bar Association Elections Amid Security Concerns
The Delhi High Court is currently hearing a plea regarding the upcoming Shahdara Bar Association elections, scheduled for May 9, 2025, at the Karkardooma Courts Complex. The petition, filed by Justice Talwant Singh (Retd.), Chairperson of the Bar Association’s Election Committee, requests the adoption of both online and offline voting methods, citing a heightened security risk due to increasing tension among contesting candidates.
The matter was heard on May 3, 2025, by a full bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh, Justice Navin Chawla, and Justice C. Hari Shankar. Taking note of the volatile atmosphere, the bench issued notices to all candidates to appear for submissions. The Court also directed the Election Commission of India to provide Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the election and sought a detailed security report from Delhi Police.
To ensure law and order during the electoral process, the Court has mandated the personal presence of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in court on May 5, 2025, and instructed that adequate security be deployed from May 8 through the declaration of results.
Background: Postponements and Electoral Irregularities
This judicial intervention follows the earlier postponement of the elections originally scheduled for March 21, 2025, which were to be conducted alongside other bar association polls across Delhi. That round of elections was marred by serious allegations of booth capturing, fraudulent voting, and procedural lapses, leading to the cancellation of elections in both the Shahdara and Saket courts.
Upholding Integrity in Bar Association Elections
The plea highlights the growing challenge of conducting free, fair, and peaceful elections within the legal community. The High Court’s involvement underscores the importance of maintaining transparency, integrity, and order in bar association electoral processes—an essential component of self-regulation within the legal profession.
This case is expected to set a precedent for electoral reform within bar associations, particularly in light of ongoing efforts to digitize and secure the voting process across Delhi’s legal institutions.
