Advocate Amit Rana has been elected Chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana. Advocate Sharmila Sharma has been elected Vice-Chairperson of the Council. The elections were held for the office-bearers of the newly constituted Bar Council.
Advocate Karanjit Singh has been elected as a Member of the Bar Council of India from the State Bar Council. A total of 26 members voted in the election. After the voting, advocate Pardeep Parmar was appointed Honorary Secretary.
First Elections of the Newly Constituted Bar Council
These were the first elections for the office-bearers of the newly constituted Bar Council. They followed the general elections to the Bar Council held in March 2026. The new leadership takes charge of a Council that has just been formed.
Two Women Members Co-Opted for 30% Representation
The Council also co-opted two women members: Justice (Retd.) Jaishree Thakur and a senior advocate. This was done in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court in Yogamaya M.G. v. Union of India. The direction requires State Bar Councils to ensure 30% representation of women.
- Amit Rana — elected Chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana
- Sharmila Sharma — elected Vice-Chairperson
- Karanjit Singh — elected Member of the Bar Council of India from the State Bar Council
- Pardeep Parmar — appointed Honorary Secretary
- 26 members — voted in the election
Our Take: Why This Election Matters
To put it plainly, this is a routine but important change of guard. The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana regulates advocates in the two states, so the people elected here decide how the profession is governed. The fact that 26 members voted shows the election was decided by a small, close group — not a broad vote. That is how these Council elections work, but readers should know it.
In our view, the more significant part of this story is the co-option of two women members. The Supreme Court has clearly said that State Bar Councils must have 30% women representation. By co-opting Justice (Retd.) Jaishree Thakur and a senior advocate, the Council has followed that direction. This is a step in the right direction, and other State Bar Councils should follow the same path without waiting for pressure.
For advocates in Punjab and Haryana, the message is simple: a new team is now in charge. What matters next is whether this Council delivers on the basics — timely enrolment, fair disciplinary action, and real support for young lawyers. The election is done. The work begins now.
