With more than 1,000 votes, Kapil Sibal defeated Pradeep Kumar Rai to become the new President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). Rai garnered more than 650 votes. Adish C. Aggarwala, Priya Hingorani, Tripurari Ray, and Neeraj Srivastava were among the other contenders in the contest.

After the association’s elections, eminent senior lawyer Kapil Sibal was selected as the SCBA President. In addition to lawyers Tripurari Ray and Neeraj Srivastava, senior advocates Adish C. Aggarwala, Pradeep Kumar Rai, and Priya Hingorani also ran for the role.

PTI sources claim that Rai received more than 650 votes, while Kapil Sibal received more than 1,000.

The SCBA’s executive committee had previously been instructed by the Supreme Court to reserve certain seats for female members. Judges K.V. Viswanathan and Surya Kant underlined that the SCBA is a significant organization and a crucial component of the country’s top court. They stipulated that women would only be allowed to run for treasurer in the next 2024–2025 SCBA elections.

Captain Kapil Sibal’s Trip
Harvard Law School alumni Sibal held the position of Additional Solicitor General for India from 1989 to 1990. In 1983, he received the designation of senior advocate.Kapil Sibal served three terms as SCBA president during the Congress-led UPA administration from 1995 to 2002.

“Kapil Sibal has been elected as the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association by a significant majority,” Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said following Kapil Sibal’s election. For liberal, secular, democratic, and progressive forces, this is a significant win.”

Ramesh went on, “According to the departing prime minister, this is also a preview of the changes that will shortly take place on a national scale. The past regime’s defenders in court and supporters ought to prepare for the shock.”

Sibal’s appointment to the SCBA presidency is very noteworthy, particularly in light of the present situation. His election occurs at a pivotal moment when the Bar has to have a leader who respects the constitution. Sibal’s victory in the SCBA elections happened to be coincidental with his triumph in the Prabir Purkayastha case, when he effectively protected civil freedoms against severe police powers. A well-known advocate for liberal and secular ideals and a champion of human rights, Sibal’s resounding endorsement by the Supreme Court Bar is comforting at these trying times for the nation.

There was a great deal of polarization during the SCBA elections. Vote appeals were made under the pretext of “defeating secular forces,” which is in direct opposition to the secularism concept found in the constitution. Thus, Sibal’s win can be interpreted as a victory over these unconstitutional beliefs.

The honor of the SCBA leadership had been damaged by the actions of the outgoing president, senior lawyer Adish C. Aggarwala. He received a lot of backlash for his letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) requesting that protesting farmers be dealt with without first consulting the members. Aggarwala was perceived to have abused his official position by his activities, which included his letter to the Indian President about the electoral bond decision and his attempt to intervene by asking for a reconsideration of the ruling. In a live-streamed proceeding, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud publicly chastised Aggarwala, a public embarrassment never before seen for a SCBA President.

Sibal’s win is essential in this regard to elevating the SCBA presidency’s stature. His resume of professional achievement, legal knowledge, and dedication to the rule of law make him a suitable choice to win back the trust of the Bench and the Bar.

It is impossible to overstate the significance of the SCBA as the highest court of the Bar Association of India. Since the President is regarded as a well-known national voice, the SCBA President post is highly significant.The Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) election for president has been won by veteran attorney Kapil Sibal. Sibal defeated veteran lawyer Pradeep Rai, his closest opponent, with 1,066 votes.

Bar and Bench reports that Pradeep Kumar Rai garnered 689 votes.

Kapil Sibal will hold the position of SCBA President for the fourth time. On May 8, he declared his intention to run for the SCBA presidency.

Neeraj Srivastava, Tripurari Ray, and Priya Hingorani were among the other candidates.

The Association’s current president is senior advocate Adish Aggarwala; the vice president is senior advocate Pradeep Rai; and the honorary secretary is advocate Rohit Pandey.
Harvard Law School alumnus Sibal held the position of Additional Solicitor General for India in 1989–1990. In 1983, he received the title of senior advocate.

Three times before, in 2001, Kapil Sibal was elected President of the SCBA; his most recent tenure was twenty-three years ago. He was also in that role from 1995 to 1996 and from 1997 to 1998.

According to Honorary Secretary Rohit Pandey, the seasoned attorney was a candidate for President.

At the moment, Senior Advocate Adish Aggarwala is the President of the SCBA.
Previously, the SCBA’s executive committee had some seats set aside for female members by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of India’s top court considers the SCBA as a major institution that is an essential component, according to Justices Surya Kant and K.V. Viswanathan. They stipulated that reservations would be made just for female bar members.

The bench decided that the executive committee’s Treasurer post will only be open to women in the next SCBA elections, which are scheduled for 2024–2025.

The SCBA elections were conducted on May 16, the results were declared on May 19, and the votes were counted on May 18..