Kapil Sibal elected president of Supreme Court Bar Association

On May 14, Sibal had told the Indian Express that, if elected, intends to ensure that politics is not brought into the courtroom at a time when “highly volatile political cases” are decided in courtrooms.

“Our ideology is the Constitution of India… to uphold the rule of law and to protect citizens from excesses of the State. That’s what a lawyer is for, right? Every government in the history of the world always exceeds the exercise of powers that is warranted by the law. And the lawyers are there to protect the citizens. That’s the only ideology and I don’t think we should bring politics into it at all. I’ve never brought it. I intend to ensure that that does not happen,” he said.

On him entering the race after nearly 25 years, Sibal said that he is deeply committed to the judiciary and to the institution.

“This is my life, you know. I’ve had 50 years in this court, it’s a long time. I am wedded to it and I want the court to thrive. I want every citizen of this country to have great confidence in this institution,” he added.

Sibal has been the SCBA President between1995-1996; 1997-1998 and 2001-2002 — before becoming a Union minister in the UPA government. His unexpected entry to the race this year raised the stakes for the election, with the SCBA for the first time held a Presidential debate before the polls in the lawns of the Supreme Court.