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Kapil Sibal entry triggers debate: Should a politician contest and hold SCBA presidentship?

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The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election campaigning has hotted up with Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal entering the fray in the last moment for the President’s post. Sibal’s main contender is Pradeep Rai, SCBA Vice-President for two terms and an active Senior Advocate known for his concern for members’ cause.  Sibal, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Samajwadi Party, had filed his nomination on May 9, a mere seven days before the elections on May 16. The nomination of Sibal has triggered a debate whether a politician should contest and hold the presidentship of the SCBA. 

Justice PV Shetty, former Lokayukta, Karnataka, told India Legal: “The President-elect should not make use of the position as the office-bearer of the association to improve his position. His political will should not find place in the association’s acitivity. It should be kept separate. One is elected as the President of the SCBA and one should not use the position to improve his political status.”

Justice PV Shetty

The SCBA’s mandate is to facilitate a constructive dialogue between the Bar and the Bench, nurturing an environment conducive to the administration of justice. However, partisanship can effectively mar any such interactive effort. A politician brings with himself a baggage of not only entrenched ideologies but vested interests too. He juggles two careers and two ambitions at a time. It opens up the SCBA or any organisation to become a tool of partisan motives, turning it into an impediment rather than a facilitator of legal discourse. This has potential to erode public trust in the judiciary and compromise the sanctity of law administration and justice.

Justice Sridhar Rao, former acting chief justice of Gauhati High Court, told India Legal: “Allowing a Member of Parliament or Member of Legislative Assembly to hold senior posts in the SCBA is not tenable. The association will then have the character of a political party. It will also affect the unity of the Bar.”

Justice Sridhar Rao

Accessibility is another crucial factor that underscores the unsuitability of politicians for leadership roles within professional bodies such as the SCBA. A politician’s hectic schedule, divided between political engagements and legal pursuits, leaves little room for meaningful engagement with the grassroots members of the Bar. A leader who is inaccessible to the common man cannot truly understand their concerns and represent their interests effectively.

Prof Suryaprakash, Vice Chancellor, National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, told India Legal:  “Article 19 (i) (c) provides for freedom to form associations and unions. The SCBA has been formed not for political aggrandisement but for protection and promotion of advocates interests and rights; and to facilitate administration of justice. SCBA assists the highest court in justice delivery system, and is a part of justice delivery system. The Bar and the Bench go hand in hand. No politician should head the SCBA as it would make all political parties vie with each other to set up their own candidate and would thus make the association a political arena. Bar and Bench go hand in hand. No politician should head the SCBA. It should be headed only by legal professionals.”

Prof.(Dr.) S. Surya Prakash

Sibal was previously elected SCBA President three times, his last tenure was twenty-three years ago in 2001. Before that, he was President during the 1995-96 and 1997-98 terms. Kapil Sibal also served as the Additional Solicitor General of India during 1989–90.

Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai has over 25 years of standing at the Bar in the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, Commissions, Regulatory Bodies and Tribunals. During his two terms as Vice-President, SCBA, Rai has taken quite a few initiative to promote the interests of the SCBA members which includes mediation programs, members housing , health benefits for members, chamber allotment and cultural programs.

Incumbent SCBA President Senior Advocate Adish Aggarwala is standing for re-election. Apart from Sibal, Rai and Aggarwala, Senior Advocate Priya Hingorani, Advocates Neeraj Srivastava and Tripurari Ray are also in the fray.

The SCBA elections will be held on May 16 . Voters will choose the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. A debate will be held in the Supreme Court lawns between the candidates for the posts of President and Hony Secretary on May 15. Votes will be counted on May 18, Saturday.

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IMD predicts very heavy rainfall across Uttar Pradesh over next 24 hours, issues thunderstorm alert

The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall, thunderstorms and heavy to very heavy showers across Uttar Pradesh over the next 24 hours, while the Hindon river in Noida has crossed the danger mark.

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Rain

Large parts of Uttar Pradesh are expected to witness widespread rainfall over the next 24 hours, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting rain or thundershowers across most parts of the state. The weather department has also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several regions along with thunderstorms and lightning.

IMD issues heavy rain warning for West and East Uttar Pradesh

According to the IMD, isolated places in West Uttar Pradesh are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. In East Uttar Pradesh, heavy rainfall is expected at a few places, while isolated locations may experience very heavy rainfall.

The department has also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning at a few places across the state during this period.

Lucknow likely to witness rain and thunderstorms

For Lucknow and nearby areas, the IMD has predicted an overcast sky with intermittent rain and thundershowers on Sunday.

The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 29 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is likely to be 26 degrees Celsius. The weather office has also warned of thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rainfall at isolated locations in and around the city.

Hindon river flows above danger mark in Noida

The ongoing wet spell has also affected river levels in western Uttar Pradesh.

In Gautam Buddh Nagar district, the Central Water Commission (CWC) issued a warning after the Hindon river in Noida crossed the danger mark. According to the commission’s bulletin issued at 6:52 pm, the river level stood at 196.16 metres at 6 pm, which is 0.16 metres above the danger level of 196.0 metres.

The water level was rising at a rate of 40.01 mm per hour and remained 1.12 metres below the highest flood level of 197.28 metres, recorded on July 26, 2023. The commission said the river was flowing between the danger mark and the highest flood level.

Rainfall recorded across several districts

Lucknow recorded a maximum temperature of 31.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, which was 2.5 degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 27.9 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees above normal. The city received only a trace of rainfall between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.

Among the major weather stations, Banda recorded the highest rainfall at 70.8 mm, followed by Hamirpur (45 mm), Ghazipur (41.6 mm) and Churk in Sonbhadra (29.4 mm).

Other rainfall figures included Jhansi (9.8 mm), Barabanki (9 mm), Ballia (6.1 mm), Bareilly (5.4 mm), Orai (4.2 mm), Shahjahanpur (2 mm), Prayagraj (1.6 mm), Fursatganj (0.8 mm), Gorakhpur and Moradabad (0.4 mm each) and Bahraich (0.2 mm).

Meanwhile, stations including Kanpur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Agra, Ayodhya, Sultanpur and Basti did not record any rainfall during the observation period.

Monsoon keeps temperatures below normal

The prevailing monsoon conditions kept daytime temperatures below normal in many parts of Uttar Pradesh. However, parts of the Bundelkhand region continued to record maximum temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius despite the ongoing rainy spell.

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Sonam Wangchuk’s wife seeks urgent High Court hearing to shift him to private hospital

Gitanjali J Angmo has moved the Delhi High Court seeking Sonam Wangchuk’s transfer to a private hospital, alleging his continued stay at Safdarjung Hospital amounts to illegal detention.

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Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing to allow his transfer from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facility. The plea comes amid concerns over Wangchuk’s health after he spent weeks on a hunger strike demanding reforms in the education system.

According to Angmo, the government-run hospital has refused to discharge Wangchuk despite repeated requests from the family. She has also alleged that heavy police deployment inside the hospital has severely restricted their movement.

Wife alleges ‘illegal detention’ inside hospital

In a social media post, Gitanjali J Angmo claimed that hospital authorities have not permitted the family to shift Wangchuk to a private hospital of their choice.

She alleged that around 30 police personnel were stationed on their hospital floor, with more than 100 deployed across the premises, describing the situation as “illegal detention” rather than medical care.

Angmo said the restrictions have limited the family’s movement within the hospital and urged the court to intervene.

Shifted to hospital after hunger strike entered 21st day

Police shifted Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital after his hunger strike entered its 21st day.

The activist has been on an indefinite fast since June 28 as part of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s protest against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. His family says his health has deteriorated significantly during the protest.

The Delhi High Court is expected to consider the plea seeking his transfer to a private hospital.

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Abhishek Banerjee’s office demolished in Bengal, Trinamool alleges political vendetta

The South 24 Parganas administration demolished Abhishek Banerjee’s office in Amtala over alleged building plan violations. The Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of carrying out politically motivated action.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Lok Sabha MP and Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s office in Amtala, located in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, was demolished by the district administration on Saturday, triggering a fresh political confrontation between the ruling BJP government in the state and the opposition Trinamool Congress.

Administration cites alleged building violations

According to officials, the office was demolished because it was allegedly constructed without an approved building plan. Authorities said notices seeking explanations and relevant documents regarding the construction were issued on June 30 and July 7.

The administration also directed the Diamond Harbour MP to appear before district officials on July 15 and submit his response.

Officials claimed that no reply was received to either notice and that Banerjee did not appear before the administration as instructed. Following this, authorities decided to proceed with demolition.

A bulldozer was brought to the site on Saturday morning, and a heavy police presence was deployed after security arrangements were put in place around the premises before the demolition began.

Trinamool Congress alleges political revenge

Reacting to the action, the Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of targeting its leaders through what it described as “vengeful, violent politics.”

The party said the matter is already pending before a court and alleged that a “bulldozer culture” has emerged in West Bengal since the BJP came to power. It described the demolition as an act of political vengeance and alleged “goonda raj” during the operation.

Political backdrop

The demolition comes months after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, in which the BJP secured 208 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule. The Trinamool was reduced to 80 seats, while former party leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the state’s Chief Minister.

Since its electoral defeat, the Mamata Banerjee-led party has witnessed internal turmoil. A faction of MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee, who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. Several Lok Sabha MPs also left the party to join the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, while former Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik resigned and later joined the BJP.

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