Bar Council elections to be held in March

The elections to the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana will be held in March 2026. Polling in Chandigarh will take place on March 17, followed by district-level elections on March 18.

The Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Dr Sumita Misra, has directed all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to put in place the necessary administrative and logistical arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections. The Returning Officer of the Bar Council has sought the deployment of officials from the Revenue Department to supervise and manage the polling process.

The Bar Council elections are conducted every five years under the provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961. The current exercise is being expedited to comply with the order of the Supreme Court dated December 3, 2025, aimed at ensuring continuity of democratic governance within the statutory body regulating the legal profession.

The authorities have emphasised strict adherence to the prescribed schedule and procedures to facilitate a transparent electoral process.