The Supreme Court on Friday took up applications concerning reservation and related procedural safeguards for women lawyers in the ongoing Bar Council elections, and directed the applicants to approach the High-Powered Committees constituted to supervise the electoral process.

During the hearing, submissions were made on various procedural issues, including requests for separate ballots and measures to ensure transparency and fairness in the elections. It was pointed out that in certain States, the nomination process had already commenced, while the concerned committees had not yet decided the pending representations.

The Court observed that the High-Powered Committees constituted under the supervision of the respective High Courts were competent to address day-to-day procedural issues arising during the elections. It clarified that parties need not approach the Supreme Court for such matters unless the prayers directly concern the implementation or modification of earlier orders passed by the Court.

The bench requested Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia to issue necessary instructions and directions to the committees overseeing the Bar Council elections, so that procedural issues could be resolved at the committee level.

Granting liberty to the applicants to approach the concerned High-Powered Committees, the Court disposed of the applications.