Kumar Prabhat
Dumka
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has increased the strength of the Jharkhand State Bar Council (JSBC) from 25 to 32 seats, a move that has been widely welcomed by the legal fraternity, particularly in the Santhal Pargana division.
The decision was taken in compliance with directions of the Supreme Court of India. The BCI has instructed the Chief Electoral Officer to declare candidates who secured positions 19 to 25 in the recently held State Bar Council elections as duly elected members.
The expansion aims to accommodate mandatory representation norms while ensuring broader democratic participation among advocates across the state. Under the Advocates Act, 1961, the JSBC originally had 25 seats, including five reserved for women advocates under the Supreme Court-mandated 33 per cent reservation and two nominated members.
The announcement was greeted with celebrations in bar associations across Dumka, Deoghar, Godda, Sahibganj, Pakur and Jamtara. Advocates said the enhanced representation would strengthen the voice of lawyers from the Santhal Pargana region in the state’s apex legal body.
Legal fraternity members expressed hope that the expanded council would focus on improving court infrastructure, advocate welfare schemes, stipend support for young lawyers and other professional development initiatives. They also thanked the Supreme Court and the BCI for ensuring a more inclusive and geographically representative State Bar Council.
