Empower Your Voice: One Lakh Lawyers Ready to Shape the Future in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Bar Council Elections!
The upcoming elections for the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTNP) are set for March 30, 2026, marking a significant moment in the legal landscape after a seven-year hiatus. This year, the electorate has surged to 100,539 eligible lawyers, a stark contrast to the 37,474 who voted in the last elections in 2018 out of around 50,000 registered voters.
A High Powered Election Committee (HPEC), formed by the Supreme Court and led by former Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Rajiv Shakdher, alongside senior counsel E. Omprakash and advocate Amit George, has made substantial strides in preparing for the elections. Over the past three years, 18,515 new lawyers have registered with the BCTNP after passing the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) conducted by the Bar Council of India (BCI). While these lawyers are not currently members of any associated bar associations, they have expressed interest in voting in this year’s elections.
Tasked with overseeing the electoral process, the HPEC was appointed by the Supreme Court on November 11, 2025. Following extensive groundwork, K.N. Basha, a former judge of the Madras High Court, was named the Returning Officer, and the official election notification was released on January 31, 2026. Significantly, the Supreme Court has mandated a 30% reservation for women lawyers, leading to the election of seven women among the 25 council members. Consequently, the election will include 23 contested positions-five reserved for women-with two additional women to be co-opted from the BCI.
To facilitate the voting process, 168 polling booths will be established across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with the Madras High Court serving as the largest polling site. An estimated 28,180 lawyers are anticipated to cast their votes there. Additional locations in Chennai, including Egmore, Saidapet, and George Town court campuses, will also have polling booths. Madurai boasts the second highest number of eligible voters, with 9,294 lawyers registered across seven polling booths. Coimbatore will host four booths, accommodating 5,244 eligible voters, while 3,431 lawyers in Tiruchy will be able to vote across various local booths. In Puducherry, a total of 1,683 lawyers will be eligible, split between the Puducherry and Karaikal bar associations.
In an effort to ensure fair conduct during the elections, the HPEC has instituted a strict code of conduct. Candidates are prohibited from using law students for canvassing or resorting to inducements such as money or parties for votes. Violation of these regulations could lead to disqualification. The code further prohibits candidates from referencing political or religious affiliations and mandates that all campaign activities remain within lawful parameters to ensure the electoral process is unimpeachable.
Nominations for candidates opened on March 1, 2026, closing on March 7. During this window, 151 nominations were submitted, which will undergo scrutiny on March 10 before the final candidate list is published. The election results will be announced on April 3, 2026, ushering in a new chapter for the BCTNP as it aims to enhance representation and governance in the legal sector. The outcome of these elections is highly anticipated in the legal community, reflecting the evolving landscape of advocacy in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/one-lakh-lawyers-eligible-to-vote-in-bar-council-of-tamil-nadu-and-puducherry-elections-this-year/article70718356.ece
Category : Tamil Nadu
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Publish Date: 2026-03-08 19:26:00
