Chennai: The much-awaited elections to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, a statutory body, which regulates the legal practice and legal education in the state, will be held on March 28, 2018. Justice G.M.Akbar Ali, a retired judge of the Madras high court has been appointed as the returning officer to conduct the elections.
According to a communication sent by Bar Council of India, to the secretary of BCTP, in compliance of the orders of the Supreme Court, the BCI has resolved to conduct the elections to the BCTP on March 28.
The following is the election schedule: Publication of notice in official gazette and two daily newspapers one in English and another in regional language will be on January 25, 2018. Filing of nominations will be from February 1. Last date for receipt of nominations will be on February 15. Last date of withdrawal of nominations will be on February 22. Publication of final list of candidates will be on March 1 and date of election will be on March 28.
In another communication, the BCI has said, “Vijay Narayan, chairman of the special committee of the BCTP, had forwarded a letter dated January 15 for the appointment of a retired judge of Madras high court to conduct free and fair election for the BCTP and the other two special committee members viz senior advocate R.Singaravelan and advocate N.Chandrasekaran have also written a detailed letter on Jan-uary 16 requesting the BCI to appoint the retired judge of the Madras high court to conduct the election in a free and unbiased manner. As all the special committee members of BCTP have requested this council to appoint the retired judge of the Madras high court to conduct a free and fair election for the BCTP, this council unanimously resolves to appoint the three Chief Justice of the high courts and retired judges of the high courts for looking after the election affairs and further this council resolves to appoint Justice G.M.Akbar Ali, as the returning officer to conduct the elections of BCTP in accordance with the schedule”.
