Chennai: New rules for bar elections not wrong
The new rules barred the lawyers punished for contempt of court from holding official position in political party.
Chennai: Madras high court has observed that rules framed by the special committee of Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry prescribing 10 years of practice experience as a minimum eligibility criteria to contest in the elections to the council might not be wrong.
The petitions by advocates G. Murugendran and Selvakumar challenging the new rules came up for hearing before Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose. The bench made the observation and posted the matter for further hearing to Thursday.
The petitioners have challenged the power of the special committee to frame the rules.
The special committee of the council has been making arrangements to conduct the poll on March 28 for the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
While so on January 24, the special committee of the council had passed a resolution prescribing certain rules to govern the election. Section of advocates had opposed the rules.
As per new rules, advocates who have been practicing continuously for 10 years would be entitled to contest the election.
The rules barred the lawyers punished for contempt of court, advocates holding official position in political party or founder of a party, and those who face disciplinary proceeding before the State Bar Council from contesting in the poll.
The petitioners stated that the election to the council governed by the Bar Council of India Rules. The special committee has no powers to amend the rules. This was done violation of statutory provisions.