New Delhi, May 16, 2024
Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal was elected President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Thursday. This marks the fourth time Sibal has held the prestigious position, having previously served three times in the last three decades.
Senior advocates Adish C Aggarwala, Pradeep Kumar Rai, Priya Hingorani, along with advocates Tripurari Ray and Neeraj Srivastava were also competing for the presidency.
The election saw a active participation with 2330 advocates casting their votes out of the 2850 members in the voter list. Sibal received 1066 votes, defeating current Vice President of the SCBA Pradeep Rai who garnered 689 votes and the current President Adish Aggarwala who secured 307 votes. Sibal's victory assures that the independence of the bar is in capable hands.
Who is Kapil Sibal?
Kapil Sibal, a Harvard Law School graduate, was the additional solicitor general of India during 1989-90 and was designated as a senior advocate in 1983. Between 1995 and 2002 he served three terms as the SCBA president. His extensive experience and significant contributions to the legal field have earned him this position once again.The 75-year-old veteran lawyer celebrated 50 years at the Bar last year.
Adish Aggarwala is currently the president of the SCBA. Notably, the Supreme Court had earlier directed that some posts in the executive committee of the SCBA be reserved for women members. A bench of justices Surya Kant and K V Vishwanathan underscored the importance of the SCBA as a premier institution integral to the highest judicial forum of the country. The bench directed that the post of treasurer in the upcoming 2024-2025 SCBA polls be reserved for women.
Overall, Sibal’s election as SCBA president reflects the trust and respect he commands within the legal community.