The Supreme Court on Monday allowed 112 newly qualified Advocates-on-Record (AoRs) to vote in the upcoming elections of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA).

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also granted time till 5 PM on May 19 to the remaining applicants to submit and verify their eligibility forms.

The directions came while hearing a plea filed by advocate Ritu Rajkumari challenging actions of the SCAORA Election Committee.

The Court was informed that, in terms of its earlier order dated April 27, a total of 161 newly qualified AoRs had applied for SCAORA membership and sought permission to participate in the upcoming elections. Out of these, 112 applicants were found eligible to vote.

As regards the remaining applicants, the bench directed the Election Committee to provide them one final opportunity to submit their eligibility documents and complete verification by 5 PM on May 19. The Court clarified that applications submitted in all respects would be considered solely for the purpose of allowing them to cast their votes.

During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), raised concerns regarding SCBA membership and voting rights.

He submitted that certain SCAORA members were seeking voting rights in SCAORA elections without becoming SCBA members, adding that such a situation could eventually impact their participation in SCBA elections as well.

Singh also urged the Court that individuals who had not obtained SCBA membership should be removed from the membership rolls.

Advocate Rajiv Shanker Dwivedi appeared on behalf of the petitioner.