On Wednesday, the Supreme Court began the process of establishing comprehensive guidelines to enhance and streamline the operations of bar associations across India, requesting input from all lawyers' organizations within four weeks.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta emphasized that the initiative was not adversarial but focused on institutional reform. The court was addressing a case involving allegations of discrimination against the Madras Bar Association.

The bench remarked, "Unless we start doing something now, how will we succeed? There cannot be a magical wand to do everything."

The Supreme Court has appointed advocate Vipin Nair, President of the Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record Association (SCAORA), as the nodal counsel to coordinate with bar associations nationwide, gathering their inputs for further deliberation.

These suggestions are expected to cover various aspects, including membership criteria, election procedures, and governance practices within bar associations. The court proposed dedicating specific days to address issues related to district, high court, and Supreme Court bar associations, ensuring equal voting rights for all members. It also highlighted the necessity of improving basic infrastructure for bar members and directed SCAORA to include recommendations on this matter.

The Supreme Court has instructed the registry to post a notice on its website, inviting all high court and district bar associations to submit their suggestions to the SCAORA president. The matter is scheduled for a hearing in October.