The Ranchi District Bar Association has decided take the State Bar Council of Jharkhand by its horn and appeal for a stay against the order of apex association in Jharkhand that calls for rescinding the recently concluded election for the executive committee members and for the post of the office bearers. The State bar association has also threatened to derecognise the district bar’s election process if the district association fails to comply with the orders.
The Ranchi District Bar Association has conducted election under the provisions of the Societies Act whereas according to reports the Jharkhand State Bar Council had directed the district association to conducted elections under the provisions of the model rules. The state bar council has reportedly served notices to 16 lawyers asking them to explain reasons for not derecognising them and cautioned the new committee to not take charge of affairs of the association.
“We are going to file a writ within next few days and we will seek stay on the order. They (state bar council) have violated orders of the Supreme Court and High Court. Their order is not going to affect functioning of the council,” said member of the election committee, Arvind Kumar Singh.
The district bar association had conducted election for 39-member executive committee and to elect chairman, secretary of the association. Even as the counting for the electing executive committee members is in progress, lalmuni Sahu has been declared as the Chairman of the association and Rohit Ranjan has been declared as the Secretary of the district bar council. The General Body of the apex association of lawyers has given 10-days time to affiliated association to comply with the order passed on Sunday.
“It is not wise that the district bar council which receives benefit from the state bar council does not acknowledges its decision. We have given 10-days time to comply with the orders and go for re-election as per the model rules of the state bar council,” said Vice-Chairman of the Jharkhand State Bar Council, Rajesh Kumar Shukla.
Although the district bar council has rejected the models rules for holding elections for various posts, the parent association asserted that the model rules framed by it has been recognised by the Bar Council of India also and that the affiliated association should not bypass those rules while holding elections.