NOMINATIONS of 12 candidates who are office-bearers of various Bar Associations have been cancelled in the MP State Bar Council elections. This has caused widespread anger among the candidates. Candidates have alleged that the Election Committee has cancelled the nominations in violation of rules. The candidates have also filed a petition in the Supreme Court, which will be heard on Monday. Speaking to reporters on Friday, High Court Bar Association President Dhanya Kumar Jain said that the Election Committee is working under pressure from the current officebearers of the State Bar. Thousands of names were removed from the voters’ list and no time was given for corrections.

 

High Court Bar Secretary Paritosh Trivedi said that an undertaking was taken in the nomination form that if they win the election, they will have to resign from one post. Despite this, nominations were cancelled citing violation of rules. They stated that the Supreme Court had given the Bar Council of India a week to change the old rule, which was not done. District Bar President Manish Mishra and Vice President Jyoti Rai stated that the Election Committee itself is not following the rules. Initially, it was stated that the nomination fee Rs 1.25 lakh would not be refunded under any circumstances, but now they have stated that the fee would be refunded after the form is rejected. They unanimously demanded that the Election Committee resign. QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT THE EXORBITANT HONORARIUM: High Court and District Bar officials stated that the Election Committee consists of a former Chief Justice, a retired judge, and a senior advocate. They are being paid honorariums of Rs 450,000, Rs 350,000, and Rs 250,000 per month, respectively. The election will take approximately six months. The two-page nomination form was charged at Rs 5,000.