The Bar Council of India (BCI) has constituted a special committee headed by Odisha Advocate General Ashok Parija in absence of elections to the State Bar Council of Odisha.
While Parija has been named as the chairman of the special committee, former chairman of State Bar Council Manas Ranjan Mohapatra is one of the members of the panel.
Similarly, Ajay Kumar Baral, also former chairman, executive committee of State Bar Council of Odisha, will function as a member of the panel headed by Parija.
The committee shall also ensure that no person with fake degree and no “non-practicing advocate” becomes a voter.
The verification rules are to be followed in letter and spirit and all steps are taken for providing for elections without any unnecessary delay, it said.
The BCI formed such a special committee as the extended period of holding elections also expired on November 4. The Bar Council of Odisha could not provide for election of its members even during the extended period. The preliminary voters' list could not be prepared. The members did not show any interest in completion of verification process even after several directions of the BCI, the resolution said.
“The Special Committee under Section 8A (Advocates Act) has to be constituted by the BCI with effect from November 5, 2019,” the resolution mentioned.