Delhi High Court - Orders
Priya Kumari vs Bar Council Of India & Anr on 9 February, 2026
Author: Amit Bansal
Bench: Amit Bansal
$~34
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ W.P.(C) 1789/2026
PRIYA KUMARI .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Satish Sangwan, Mr. Vinod
Kumar Mangal, Mr. Nikhil Rastogi,
Mr. Kunal Srivastava, Mr. Parvinder
Singh, Ms. Tannu Rathee, Mr.
Himanshu Mehra & Mr. Kunal
Yadav, Advocates
versus
BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA & ANR. .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Preetpal Singh, Ms. Tanupreet
Kaur & Ms.Simran Kukmari,
Advocates for R-1.
Mr. T. Singhdev, Mr. Tanishq
Srivastava, Ms. Yamini Singh, Mr.
Abhijit Chakravarty & Mr. Bhanu
Gulati, Advocates for R-2.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT BANSAL
ORDER
% 09.02.2026
1. The present writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondent no.1/ Bar Council of India and the respondent no.2/ Bar Council of Delhi to include the name of the petitioner in the electoral roll for the upcoming election of the Bar Council of Delhi to be held from 21st February, 2026 to 23rd February, 2026.
2. It is contended by counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner that W.P.(C) 1789/2026 Page 1 of 3 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 10/02/2026 at 20:35:46 the results of the All-India Bar Examination - XX (AIBE) held on 30th November, 2025 was declared on 13th January, 2026 and the petitioner passed the said exam. He further submits that despite her name being included in the tentative voter list, the same has not been included in the final electoral list. The petitioner had approached the Bar Council of Delhi on 22nd January, 2026 along with her application for inclusion in the electoral roll.
3. Mr. T. Singhdev, counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent no.2, submits that in terms of the schedule for the Bar Council of Delhi elections, the final electoral list has already been published on 17th January, 2026 and now, it is too late for inclusion of names of other voters, such as the petitioner.
4. He submits that a communication was received from Bar Council of India on 6th February, 2026 regarding the AIBE results of forty-three (43) candidates, including the petitioner.
5. In W.P.(C) 158/2026 titled Umesh Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., this Court, in its judgment dated 7th January, 2026, relying upon the observations of the Supreme Court in W.P. (C) 1319/2019 titled M. Varadhan v. Union of India & Anr., had directed the petitioners therein to file a representation before the Special Committee appointed by the Supreme Court under the said order.
6. The relevant extracts from the Judgment of M. Varadhan (supra) are set out below:
"19. During the course of hearing, it is seen that several lawyers have individual and varied grievances. We are afraid such individual grievances cannot be addressed in these proceedings. Liberty is, hence, granted to them to apply before the High-Powered Election Committee(s) for redressal of their individual issue(s).W.P.(C) 1789/2026 Page 2 of 3
This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 10/02/2026 at 20:35:46
20. Any person who is aggrieved by the decision of the High Powered Election Committee shall be at liberty to approach the High-Powered Supervisory Committee. The decision taken by the Supervisory Committee shall be final. No civil court or High Court shall entertain any petition(s) against such decision."
[emphasis supplied]
7. The relevant extracts from the judgment of this Court, passed in Umesh Kumar (supra) on 7th January, 2026 are set out below:
"8. A perusal of the aforesaid order passed by the Supreme Court shows that to conduct the elections to the Bar Council of Delhi, a Special Committee has been constituted.
9. A perusal of paragraph 19 of the aforesaid order passed by the Supreme Court also demonstrates that in case of any grievance by any individual with regard to elections or any other issues, such an individual may approach the High-Powered Election Committee which, in case of Delhi, is the Special Committee itself.
10. The aforesaid order also provides that any aggrieved person may challenge a decision of the High-Powered Election Committee/ Special Committee before the High-Powered Election Supervisory Committee and no civil court or high court shall have the power to entertain any petition against such decision."
8. Accordingly, the present writ petition is disposed of while giving liberty to the petitioner to approach the Special Committee, who shall consider the same.
AMIT BANSAL, J FEBRUARY 9, 2026 at W.P.(C) 1789/2026 Page 3 of 3 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 10/02/2026 at 20:35:46