Bar Council of India Told to Decide Recount Dispute in Two Weeks – Punjab & Haryana High Court Speeds Up Chandigarh Bar Election

Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to expeditiously decide a pending revision concerning the recount of votes in the election of the President of the District Bar Association, Chandigarh. The Bench of Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill and Justice Deepinder Singh Nalwa ordered that the matter be concluded within two weeks, emphasising the need for swift resolution of disputes involving professional bodies of advocates.

“Ensure the Requisite Record is Duly Transmitted at the Earliest”

The controversy began when, on 30 May 2025, the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana ordered a recount of votes polled in the presidential election of the Chandigarh Bar. This decision was stayed by the Bar Council of India on 5 June 2025 through an interim order, prompting the petitioner, Mandeep Singh, to approach the High Court.

During the hearing, the court noted that the revision petition against the stay order was still pending before the BCI. Instead of delving into the merits, the Bench chose to accelerate the adjudication process, directing:

“The Bar Council of India shall take necessary steps for ensuring that the requisite record is duly transmitted to it at the earliest. Respondents No. 2 and 3 are also directed to ensure that the requisite record is transmitted to respondent No. 1 at the earliest.”

Petitioner’s Assurance of Cooperation

Mandeep Singh, present in person, assured the court that he would attend the BCI proceedings on the scheduled dates and would either argue the case himself or arrange for counsel to do so.

The court disposed of the writ petition with a clear mandate: the BCI must conclude the revision within two weeks from the date of the High Court’s order, thereby preventing prolonged uncertainty in the functioning of the Bar Association.

By setting a strict timeline for the BCI, the High Court reinforced the principle that disputes affecting the governance of professional bodies—especially those representing the legal fraternity—must be resolved promptly to maintain institutional credibility and avoid disruption in democratic processes.

Date of Decision: 6 August 2025