Overview
- The bench asked the Bar Council of India to explain why it set up a separate committee for the Rajasthan State Bar Council and why this was not reported to the court.
- The court criticised inadequate honorarium and travel arrangements for retired high court judges on the election panels, questioning how they could be expected to self-fund logistics.
- Chief Justice Surya Kant urged an amicable resolution on payments, and BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra appeared to assure the issue would be settled, with a response due Wednesday.
- The court reiterated that state bar council elections must proceed under High-Powered Election Committees and a Supervisory Committee previously constituted by its orders.
- In a separate matter, the Supreme Court sought responses on a challenge to BCI Rule 4 disqualifying candidates with two or more pending serious criminal cases, listing the case for February 20.