Verdict on validity of Bar Council rules likely today

The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose, who heard the arguments on the issue for two-days in a row, said it would pass orders on the pleas assailing the validity of the rules on February 2. 

Earlier, defending the rules prescribed by the special committee, state bar council senior counsel Singaravelan contended that the atmosphere to conduct elections is not same in all the states and that every state has a different milieu. The situation in Nagaland is not the same as what prevails in Tamil Nadu and hence rules are framed to tackle such situations peculiar to the state and that remains the primary reason behind the 10-year eligibility criteria here, he said. 

As to the rule prohibiting advocates occupying political positions, Singaravelan said that such a restriction has been brought in to prevent politicisation of bar elections. 

Opposing the contentions, advocate G Murugendran, one among the petitioners contended that in none of the other states, lawyers having less than 10 years of experience are prohibited from contesting the bar elections. Only Tamil Nadu has come up with such a regulation, which is discriminatory, he said.