quotI need an orthopedic and a cardiac specialist to conduct SCBA meetingsquot – Judge SCBA elections scheduled in March

Controversies of financial irregularities have hit the executive committee of the SCBA, leading to its dissolution. An interim committee comprising former SCBA presidents, K.K Venugopal, P.P. Rao and P.H. Parikh, will take over its functioning..The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Executive Committee has been dissolved and a three-member interim committee comprising former presidents of the SCBA and Senior Counsels, K.K Venugopal, P.P. Rao and P.H. Parikh, will take over the functioning of the Association amid controversies regarding financial irregularities amongst other allegations..Growing discontent between members of the SCBA has reached boiling point. The feud was made public when a letter was allegedly written by President of the SCBA, Krishnamani in response to a complaint by Treasurer Manish Mohan. The letter accused Pareena Swarup, the Secretary of SCBA of financial irregularities and maladministration..When an Executive Committee meeting was called for to take actions against Swarup, members disrupted the proceedings with loud slogans and squabbling. Krishnamani, President of SCBA, speaking to Bar & Bench said, “We cannot conduct meetings in this atmosphere. Justices Sanyal and H.L. Aggarwal who were presiding over the meeting remarked that we would need orthopedic and a cardiac specialists to attend the meetings.” The Executive Committee consists of 21 members and was scheduled to go for elections in May this year. However, owing to the dissolution, the elections may be advanced to March this year, said Krishnamani..Pareena Swarup, believes that Krishnamani is the scapegoat in the entire fiasco. “All sorts of false letters and sms’ are being sent which is not creating an unhealthy work environment. There are several allegations of financial irregularities within SCBA and I didn’t want the Executive Committee to function in such an atmosphere.” Swarup informed Bar & Bench that Krishnamani has denied issuing the notice. However, Krishnamani confirmed having issued the notice. A copy of the notice is available here..Internal squabbling has resulted in the incapacitation of SCBA. The Association has been unable to take decisions on several important issues on account of this fiasco. Several proposed amendments to bring about transparency and smooth functioning in the Association’s affairs, especially the elections, have been suspended.