#SCBA: 11 EC members issue new circular; 2 post Holi meetings promise action

11 members of the Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) have issued a clarification “on behalf of the SCBA Executive Committee” that the meeting of March 18 was illegal and Senior Advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha continues to be the acting President. As per this new circular being circulated to members,.“…the meeting dated 18.03.2016 was an illegal meeting and was called without permission of the Acting President and the Hony. Secretary and therefore, the so called said meeting was null and void and any resolution passed by 8 members in that meeting has no force of law and is against the Rules. Mr.Ajit Kumar Sinha, Senior Advocate, is still the Acting President of SCBA, as per resolutions dated 19.02.2016 and 14.03.2016.”.The circular states that the name of Senior Advocate Jitendra Kumar Sharma is reflected in the minutes of the “illegal meeting” though his signature is not appended to the minutes of the meeting..“Mr. Jitendra Mohan Sharma (Sr.) has confirmed through telephonic conversation and SMS that no such meeting was ever convened in the Milon Banerjee Conference Room and he had not participated in the same”, states the circular..The circular further states that the next Executive Committee meeting will be convened on March 29 “and will be presided over by the Acting President to take a final decision in accordance with the SCBA Rules.”.The controversy began with the resignation of President Dushyant Dave owing to differences with Secretary Gaurav Bhatia and his subsequent withdrawal of the same. A few members of the EC had met on March 18 to accept the withdrawal of resignation and asked Dave to preside over the meeting. Secretary Gaurav Bhatia had, however, asked Dave not to attend the meeting since his withdrawal had not been accepted leading to shouting and chaos..Subsequently, minutes of the said meeting were uploaded on the website of SCBA though even as 11 members of the EC continue to maintain that the said meeting was illegal..The circular signed by 11 EC members is given below..SCBA/EC.81/2016 Dated 22.03.2016.CIRCULAR.In view of the resolution dated 18.03.2016 signed by 11 members of the Executive Committee, it was resolved that the next meeting of the Executive Committee would be held on Tuesday, 29.03.2016 at 4 pm. .Thereafter, many Executive Committee members left for the vacation. From the SMS received sent illegally by Mr. Dushyant Dave, it is noticed that he claims that he has taken over as President again and resumed office..It is clarified on behalf of the SCBA Executive Committee that the meeting dated 18.03.2016 was an illegal meeting and was called without permission of the Acting President and the Hony. Secretary and therefore, the so called said meeting was null and void and any resolution passed by 8 members in that meeting has no force of law and is against the Rules. Mr.Ajit Kumar Sinha, Senior Advocate, is still the Acting President of SCBA, as per resolutions dated 19.02.2016 and 14.03.2016. .The manner of the illegality of the meeting dated 18.03.2016 is clear from the fact that the name of Mr. Jitendra Mohan Sharma, Senior Advocate is reflected in the minutes of the so called illegal meeting, however, his signature is not appended to the minutes of the meeting dated 18.03.2016. Mr. Jitendra Mohan Sharma (Sr.) has confirmed through telephonic conversation and SMS that no such meeting was ever convened in the Milon Banerjee Conference Room and he had not participated in the same..The next Executive Committee meeting will be convened on Tuesday, 29th March, 2016, as per schedule and will be presided over by the Acting President to take a final decision in accordance with the SCBA Rules. .1.Ajit Kumar Sinha (Sr.) Acting President 2.Gaurav Bhatia Hony. Secretary 3. Dr. Sandeep Singh Joint Secretary 4. Anurag Pandey Joint Treasurer 5. Pramod Swarup (Sr.) 6.Jitendra Mohan Sharma (Sr.) 7. Ashok Bhan (Sr.) 8. Mahalakshmi Pavani (Sr.) 9. Manoj Prasad (Sr.) 10. Aabhas Parimal 11. Kumud Lata Das