Breaking; Delhi HC directs Bar Associations to incorporate “One Bar, One Vote” and “One person One chamber” Principles in Rules [Read Judgment]

A Division Bench of Delhi High Court has directed to incorporate the one-bar, one vote principle forthwith in relation to every Bar Associations in Delhi. The Court has also directed to incorporate “One person One chamber, One court complex only” principle in the rules applicable for allotment of Chambers to Advocates in all Delhi Court complexes. In one Petition the claim was that rules governing allotment of Chambers in various court complexes should be amended to restrict eligibility to one chamber in the entire territory of Delhi, for advocates, regardless of the number of bar associations they are members of ; the second claim is that each advocate should be allowed only one voting right in regard to a bar association of which he is member, regardless of the number of such associations he chooses to belong to and that directions should be issued to mandate that within the city of Delhi, all Bar Associations should hold elections not later than on expiration of two years‟ term. Allowing the Petitions Justices Ravindra Bhat and Sidharth Mridul has issued the following Directions; The following rule, incorporating the one-bar, one vote principle shall stand incorporated forthwith in relation to every Bar Association in Delhi : “A member who exercises her or his right to vote in any year in the High Court or a District Court Advocate‟s/Bar Association election shall not be eligible to contest for any post - either as member of the executive or of an office Bearer of any other Association or to cast her or his vote at the election. This condition shall remain in force and bind all Bar Associations as condition for their recognition The following rule shall stand incorporated in the rules applicable for allotment of Chambers to Advocates in all Delhi Court complexes : “No Advocate who has been allotted a chamber in any other Court complex, or has constructed or owns any chamber in the Tis Hazari or New Delhi Court complex, or has applied for any chamber in any of the said other court complex shall be eligible for allotment of a chamber.