Archive · 5 Jan 2026
SC to Ensure Specially Abled Lawyers' Representation in Bar Councils
The Supreme Court of India said it will make sure that specially abled lawyers get a fair chance to be part of state bar councils.
Right now, the rules don't allow for special seats for them, but the court wants to change that.
The court also said that specially abled lawyers should pay a much smaller fee to run for elections.
The Bar Council of India agreed to reduce the fee to Rs 15,000.
The court wants the Bar Council to change its rules so that in the future, specially abled lawyers and other reserved categories get proper representation.
The court also asked the Bar Council to think about changing the fees for becoming a lawyer.
The court is making sure that high courts don't hear similar cases while the elections are happening.
The Supreme Court will ensure representation of specially abled lawyers in state bar councils through co-option in committees for now.
The BCI agreed to reduce the nomination fee for specially abled lawyers to Rs 15,000 from Rs 1.25 lakh for upcoming elections.
The court emphasized the need for a statutory amendment to institutionalize representation of specially abled lawyers in bar councils.
The BCI chairperson argued that providing quota under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act is not feasible at this stage.
The court directed the BCI to initiate the process of amending its statutory provisions for future elections to ensure adequate representation.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Bar Council of India (BCI), specially abled lawyers, Pankaj Sinha
- What
- Ensuring representation of specially abled lawyers in state bar councils
- When
- January 5, 2024
- Where
- New Delhi, Supreme Court of India
- Why
- To ensure adequate and effective representation of specially abled lawyers in decision-making committees of bar councils
- Petitioner
- Pankaj Sinha
- Bench
- Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
- BCI Chairperson
- Manan Kumar Mishra
- Current Nomination Fee
- Rs 1.25 lakh
- Proposed Fee for Specially Abled
- Rs 15,000
- Key Issue
- Nomination fee and representation in bar councils
- Legal Framework
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act
- Court's Concern
- Adequate and effective representation
