The Allahabad High Court has taken on record a significant resolution passed by the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh to suspend the licenses of advocates who have history sheets opened against them or are recorded as gangsters in police records. The Court also directed the State police to furnish a comprehensive, police station-wise list of criminal cases registered against advocates, ensuring no material facts are concealed.
The Single Judge Bench of Justice Vinod Diwakar was hearing a petition filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India in the matter of Mohammad Kafeel v. State of U.P. and Another (Case No. 12231 of 2025). The proceedings involved scrutiny of criminal antecedents of legal practitioners and disciplinary actions by the Bar Council.
Submissions by the Bar Council
During the hearing, Shri Ashok Kumar Tiwari, counsel for the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh, filed a vakalatnama and submitted a set of documents containing a list of advocates facing pending disciplinary proceedings.
Significantly, Shri Tiwari placed on record Resolution No. 2300 of 2024, dated September 29, 2024. As noted in the court’s order, this resolution reflects a “unanimous decision has been taken by the Bar Council to suspend the Licence of Practise of those advocates against whom the police have opened history sheets and who are recorded as gangsters in police records.”
The counsel for the Bar Council sought further time to place additional documents on record, which the Court granted. He was also directed to produce a pen drive containing details of advocates to whom Certificates of Practice have been issued on the next date of hearing.
State’s Compliance and Court’s Directions
On behalf of the State, the learned Additional Advocate General (A.A.G.), assisted by Shri Paritosh Kumar Malviya, learned A.G.A.-I, filed an affidavit of compliance dated December 15, 2025. This affidavit provided a “district-wise list of cases registered against advocates.”
Reviewing the compliance, Justice Vinod Diwakar issued stringent directions to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data regarding criminal cases against lawyers. The Court directed that “all Station House Officers, through the concerned Senior Superintendents of Police, shall file an undertaking stating that the complete list of cases has been furnished to this Court in compliance with the earlier orders.”
The undertaking must explicitly state “that nothing material has been concealed; and that no other case is pending against any advocate in their respective police stations except those already disclosed.” The Court further ordered that a fresh list be furnished “police station-wise.”
The Court took the State’s affidavit and the Bar Council’s resolution on record. The matter has been directed to be listed as a fresh case at the end of the board on December 18, 2025.
Case Details:
- Case Title: Mohammad Kafeel Vs. State of U.P. and Another
- Case Number: Matters Under Article 227 No. 12231 of 2025
- Coram: Justice Vinod Diwakar
- Counsel for Petitioner: Shri Anoop Trivedi
- Counsel for Respondent: Shri Kamaluddin Khan (G.A.), Shri Ashok Kumar Tiwari (Bar Council of U.P.)
