Ahmedabad: A high-powered election committee overseeing the 2026 Bar Council of Gujarat elections on Wednesday ruled that any candidate who is not an Indian citizen cannot contest the BCI elections.The committee upheld an objection challenging the nomination of advocate C K Patel for the post of BCI member. This was because Patel had acquired UK citizenship and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status.The objection was filed by advocate M R Parmar, who argued that Patel’s foreign citizenship disqualified him under Section 24(1)(a) of the Advocates Act, 1961, which requires Indian citizenship for enrolment, and under election-related rules governing voter and candidate eligibility. The committee relied on the ministry of home affairs’ 2021 OCI notification stating an OCI cardholder is a foreign national and not an Indian citizen, and on Bar Council of India rules restricting foreign nationals from Bar Council membership and elections.In its order, the committee said, “It is hereby declared that Shree Chelabhai Karsanbhai Patel, who has accepted foreign citizenship, cannot contest the current election for the post of member, Bar Council of Gujarat. His nomination shall stand rejected, and his name shall be deleted from the final list of contesting candidates for the said election.”
