Nothing wrong in having a political ideology: SC dismisses plea

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea seeking directions to prevent members of the Bar Council of India (BCI) and state bar councils from being affiliated with political parties.

A division bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan observed that the bar bodies are intellectual organisations. The bench also observed that there was nothing wrong in having a political ideology.

The SC verbally observed "the bar bodies are intellectual bodies. Their things won't change just because the president or chairman has an ideology. We are a country of firm faith in democracy. We cannot direct Parliament to enact a law or something."


The bench also observed that senior lawyers Manan Kumar Mishra and Kapil Sibal, who head the BCI and the Supreme Court Bar Association, respectively, also have political history/affiliations.