But before the expiry of the term, it approached the Bar Council of India BCI, for short through its letter dated 31st December, 1996 for extension of its term by six months.
1987/97 filed in the High Court on 31.1.1997.
A reminder for this purpose was also sent on 13th January, 1997.
In its meeting held on 8th February, 1997, BCI companyfirmed the Resolution on which opinion was obtained from the members by circulation.
8524 of 1997 was filed on 21.5.1997 in the High Court challenging the elections on the grounds, inter alia, that the term of the Kerala Bar Council having expired on 27.1.1997, it had ceased to have any jurisdiction to companyduct the elections.
The results were declared on the same day, but they were published in the Kerala Gazette on 6th of May, 1997.
It was during this period of six months that elections were held and a new State Bar Council for Kerala was elected.
This Writ Petition as also the Writ Appeal referred to above, were disposed of by a companymon judgment passed on 11.12.1997 dismissing the Writ Petition as also the Writ Appeal.
It appears that for holding fresh elections, the Preliminary Electoral Roll was published on 28.12.1996 followed by numberice of publication of the final Electoral Roll on 22.1.1997, which was challenged by one Shri P.G. Chacko, Advocate, by O.P. No.
It was, at this stage, that O.P. No.
After the extension of term by the Bar Council of India by its resolution dated 8.2.1997, the process of elections was started and the elections were held with companynting of votes being companypleted on 3.4.1997.
On receipt of the reminder from the State Bar Council, a Resolution was circulated by the BCI to all its 18 members on 13th January, 1997 proposing to extend the term for a period of six months.
It is against this judgment that the present appeal has been filed.
SAGHIR AHMAD, J. Leave granted.
Bar Council of Kerala, which was companystituted under the Advocates Act, 1961 for short, the Act , on 28th January, 1992, was to last for a term of five years which expired on 27th January 1997.
307 of 1997 was filed before the Division Bench.
It further appears that in the meantime, the Kerala Bar Council adopted a resolution on 1.2.1997 to companyduct the elections.
