Senior advocate Pradeep Rai has been elected president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), taking charge of the organisation at a time when closer coordination between the judiciary and the legal fraternity remains a key institutional priority.

Following his election, Rai described Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as a “fatherly figure” for members of the Bar and said the newly elected SCBA leadership would remain guided by the Chief Justice. His remarks came after CJI Kant congratulated Rai and the other newly elected office-bearers.

The exchange highlighted the importance of maintaining a constructive and cooperative relationship between the Bench and the Bar. CJI Kant said the judiciary and the Bar form a close professional community and emphasised the need to preserve a coordinated relationship between the two sides.

Rai responded by assuring the Bench of the Bar’s full cooperation. He said the SCBA would support the judiciary while also continuing to represent the legitimate professional concerns of lawyers. He emphasised that the new leadership would focus on strengthening communication and coordination between advocates and judges.

The Chief Justice also urged the newly elected SCBA office-bearers to lead the Bar by example. He stressed the importance of initiatives that could help younger lawyers establish themselves and build sustainable careers in the legal profession.

The SCBA election was held on Tuesday, with the results announced later that night. Rai won the presidential contest with 822 votes. Senior advocate Rahul Kaushik was elected vice-president, while advocate Pragya Baghel became secretary. Advocate Amarendra Kumar Singh was elected treasurer and advocate Meneesh Dubey was chosen as joint secretary.

Rai is not new to the SCBA leadership. He had previously served as its vice-president and had campaigned on a range of welfare-oriented proposals for advocates. Among the measures associated with his election campaign were medical security coverage of up to ₹50 lakh and merit-based scholarships for the children of SCBA members.

The new president succeeds senior advocate Vikas Singh, who led the association after being elected to the post in 2025.

The interaction between Rai and CJI Kant also included a lighter moment involving Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. After Rai referred to the judges as fatherly figures, Mehta humorously suggested that the judges could instead be viewed as the “karta” of a Hindu Undivided Family. CJI Kant responded in the same spirit, saying that everyone was part of the family as “coparceners.”

Beyond the humour, the exchange reflected a broader message about institutional cooperation. Rai’s assurances indicate that the new SCBA administration intends to maintain dialogue with the Supreme Court while advocating for the interests and welfare of lawyers.

With a new executive committee now in place, attention will turn to how the association addresses professional concerns, particularly those affecting young advocates and the wider legal community. The leadership is also expected to balance its responsibility to represent the Bar with the need to maintain a respectful and productive relationship with the Bench.