In a significant development concerning the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) Elections 2026, the Election Committee has withdrawn suspension notices against 63 candidates following the acceptance of their explanations. However, 16 candidates remain under the scanner, having been granted an additional 12-hour window to respond to notices issued by the committee.
The notice, issued on February 23, 2026, by Justice Talwant Singh (Former Judge, Delhi हाईकोर्ट), acting as the Returning Officer for the BCD, clarifies the status of candidates and providing instructions for voters ahead of the polls.
Background
The Election Committee had previously issued notices of suspension to 79 candidates on February 22, 2026. The candidates were given a strict 12-hour deadline to submit their explanations regarding alleged violations.
Current Status of Candidates
According to the official communication (Ref. No. BCD/Elect-2026/310), the breakdown of the current situation is as follows:
- Explanations Accepted: Out of the 79 candidates who received notices, 63 submitted their explanations within the stipulated time. The Election Committee has accepted these responses and subsequently withdrawn the suspension notices. These candidates have been “advised to strictly abide by the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).”
- Pending Responses: The remaining 16 candidates have not yet had their notices cleared and have been granted a “further 12 hours’ time to respond to the Notices.”
Clarification for Voters
Addressing the voting process, the Returning Officer has issued a specific clarification to ensure there is no confusion among the electorate regarding the eligibility of candidates.
The notice states:
“It is clarified that Voters can vote for any 23 candidates out of 221 candidates, including the 16 candidates.”
Despite the pending status of the 16 candidates, they remain on the ballot for the time being. Both the list of candidates whose notices were withdrawn and the list of those with pending responses have been published on the official Election Portal of the Bar Council of Delhi at www.bcdelection2026.com.
