Re-polling for the elections to the Bar Council of Odisha in the 10 western Odisha districts will be held on December 21. A notification to this effect was made on Friday by the Bar Council after consultation with the Odisha High Court. The November 21 elections were put off in these districts when some advocates picketed in front of the booths over the High Court Bench issue.
“However, after due considerations, a last chance is now being given to the advocates of western Odisha to participate in the elections,” said Bar council Secretary Jajati Keshari Samantsinghar. For some 7,000 lawyers of these districts, 31 polling booths would be set up in 26 stations, he added. It may be mentioned that for the 25-member council, polling was held across the State last month. A total of 94 candidates, including less than ten candidates from western Odisha districts, are in the fray. Sources said counting of the votes would begin after the December 21 re-polling and it would take between four to five weeks to declare the results.
Voting in these elections is held through proportional representation by single transferable vote. Experts from the State Assembly, who are well-versed with this type of counting of votes, would be requisitioned for the purpose, the sources said. After the declaration of names of all the 25 elected members of the council, the council will select its chairman and vice-chairman. The council will also select a member to represent the Bar Council of India.