The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) elections, initially scheduled for October 2024, have been rescheduled multiple times and are now set to be held on March 21, 2025.
The upcoming election features four Senior Advocates vying for the presidency: N Hariharan, Vivek Sood, Kirti Uppal and Abhijat. Interestingly, all four of them are alumni of Faculty of Law, University of Delhi and have been in practice for more than 25 years.
Uppal, Hariharan and Abhijat are first generation lawyers, whereas Sood is a first-generation lawyer in Delhi - his father was a practitioner in Punjab. The family shifted to Delhi after the 1984 Sikh Riots and according to High Court of Delhi old timers, he started his practice from the scratch like the other three.
All four of them have gone through the rigmarole of finding their feet in the profession, have an impeccable track record and are role-model personas. All of them have reached the stature of Senior Advocate on their merit and are well aware of ground realities and what matters at Delhi High Court.
Each candidate, while running for office, is leveraging their practice’s standing, mobilising support from their networks, and relying on their existing credibility and positioning in the courtroom and at the Bar to secure votes.
The DHCBA election highlights how lawyers, like corporate leaders and entrepreneurs, are actively banking upon their public personas, past track records and personal brands to manage stakeholder perception. The perceptions are built through traditional reputation and modern engagement on social media and digital platforms to convince their voters.
The election is a live case study to observe an interesting dynamic at play - one that could be an interesting insight on how polls are won in a closely-knit legal community based upon contrasting campaign styles, established goodwill and strategic positioning.
Among the four seniors vying for the post, each brings a distinct appeal to the electorate.
Uppal embodies the old-school mobilisation approach. He is relying on the deep-rooted trust and confidence he commands within the Bar. He is an experienced office bearer and this image strengthens his appeal among senior lawyers - veterans at the Delhi High Court who value long-term personal rapport and relationships.
Sood, a modern, social media-savvy contender with 38,000 followers on LinkedIn, represents the new-age approach to Bar politics. His mentorship of first-generation lawyers and approachability makes him popular among younger lawyers. There are many who are grateful to him for sharing practice development tips during coffee breaks.
His regular pro bono work and representation of over 600 undertrials at Tihar Jail stresses his commitment to legal service and generosity. He has been vocal for legal reforms and transparency in governance. However, he has been averse to traditional mobilisation. His promise to resign on the last day of his term rather than delaying elections may be attractive for lawyers supporting a no-nonsense approach and efficiency.
Hariharan is a seasoned criminal lawyer with a strong foothold in trial courts. Now ,the question is whether his past second-place finish in the last election will propel him to victory this time.
Meanwhile, Abhijat, maintains a low profile, his administrative experience as Secretary gives him credibility, but other contenders have dominant courtroom personas. Will his grassroots engagement and direct involvement in ongoing Bar affairs help him?
Ultimately, the election presents a dynamic contest between traditional strength, digital visibility, criminal bar influence and governance experience.
It will be interesting to watch whether voters gravitate toward Uppal’s traditional leadership, Hariharan’s seasoned criminal law expertise, Sood’s digital advocacy, radical reformist ideas and vocal stand on issues that have mattered, or Abhijat’s administrative track record and insider experience.
A seasoned Bar observer notes,
“Social currency in elections isn’t about visibility alone; it is about how you have conducted yourself over the years. Sudden appearances and high-decibel campaigns do not secure votes; it is the consistent rapport and credibility built in the corridors of the High Court that truly matter."
DHCBA voters are multi-generational, with a mix of senior practitioners, trial lawyers and emerging professionals - many of whom value accessibility, public personas, popularity, dependability and years of camaraderie. There is also the practical reality of voting patterns: many lawyers vote in clusters, influenced by chambers, long-standing affiliations and community dynamics.
Historically, the DHCBA President’s elections have been won not just on credentials or vocal advocacy, but on deep-rooted interpersonal relationships, track-records, sustained goodwill and demonstrated assistance to peers and juniors over decades.
March 21 promises to be an intriguing moment in the evolution of Bar politics at the Delhi High Court, stressing the importance of 3As of personal branding - authenticity, authority and amplification. The verdict will be an intersection of personal branding, genuineness and legal politics.
[Below is an overview of the manifestos as you plan to cast your vote]
Khushboo Luthra is the founder of METPRO Advisors, a firm specialising in legal practice management and personal brand building strategy.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bar & Bench.