Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has upheld the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) decision to charge ₹1.25 lakh as the nomination fee for state bar council elections, rejecting petitions filed in various High Courts that challenged the fee structure.
Court’s Justification
A bench of the apex court observed that conducting bar council elections involves significant administrative and logistical expenses. The BCI, therefore, requires adequate funds to manage the process efficiently.
The court noted that in many cases, state bar councils have faced severe financial difficulties, especially due to low registration fees. It further stated that if the cost of elections is not recovered through nomination fees, the financial burden would fall on ordinary bar members — including young lawyers who are not contesting but are just starting their careers.
Impact on Legal Community
The decision supports the BCI’s stance that only those contesting the elections should bear the cost, thereby shielding non-contesting members from unnecessary financial pressure.
