Nearly 75 per cent polling was recorded in the election to elect the office-bearers of the District Bar Association (DBA), Hisar, held today. The polling was conducted through ballot paper, and of the total 2,763 registered voters, 2,088 advocates exercised their franchise to elect the office-bearers, including the president, vice-president, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer.
Advocate Pradeep Bajia was elected president of the District Bar Association, Hisar, while Rahul Singh Luhach won the post of vice-president. Samir Sihag was elected secretary of the association.
The election was conducted despite the stay imposed by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and also the suspension of the licence of the returning officer of the DBA election, advocate Dalip Jakhar. Jakhar had made it clear that the election would be held even as the BCI as well as the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana (BCPH) issuing letters to the DBA to restrain the election process.
In a last-ditch attempt to halt the process, the BCPH issued a letter informing the interim suspension of advocate Jakhar from practice. He was barred from appearing, pleading, filing vakalatnamas, advising clients or practising before any court, tribunal or authority, and was also placed under suspension to function as a returning officer.
Earlier, the Bar Council of India had also restrained Jakhar from functioning in any capacity related to the District Bar Association elections, including returning officer, election officer, convener, coordinator or member of any election-related body.
Despite the unprecedented action, Jakhar yesterday made it clear that the poll would be held. Notably, the General Body meeting of the DBA had earlier decided to conduct the polls after completion of the tenure of the outgoing body. An ad hoc committee was constituted in the interim period. Later, another General Body meeting appointed Dalip Jakhar as the RO, who subsequently announced the election schedule.
The issue led to a division among lawyers, with one faction supporting Jakhar and another opposing the elections.
The controversy escalated after the opposing faction approached the BCPH and BCI, following which the Bar Council issued directions questioning the conduct of the election process. It also cautioned that any poll conducted in violation of rules and regulatory framework could be subject to intervention by the competent authority.
In its latest order, dated June 10, the Bar Council of India stayed the notice and directions issued by Jakhar for conducting the elections. It reiterated that the entire election process initiated by the ad hoc committee or by Jakhar as the returning officer would remain stayed until further orders.
The BCI also placed advocate Jakhar under interim suspension from practice under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961, pending disciplinary proceedings. It further restrained him from functioning in any election-related capacity, including issuing notices, convening meetings, or handling election records such as voter lists, ballot material, nomination papers, attendance registers and other related documents.
The RO had released the final list of candidates on May 29, with 17 advocates contesting various posts in the association.
Meanwhile, an advocate had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a stay on the election process. The matter is scheduled for hearing on June 15, while the election was conducted on June 12.
