The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench has barred 300 advocates from voting in the Oudh Bar Association elections scheduled for October 28 over discrepancies in their Certificates of Practice and failure to renew the certificates.
A Division Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla issued the directions while hearing a public interest litigation concerning voter eligibility. The Court also directed the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council to establish an online verification system within six months to prevent similar disputes in future Bar Association elections.
The restriction covers 155 advocates whose Certificates of Practice specify a voting location other than the Oudh Bar Association, Lucknow, and 145 advocates whose certificates have not been renewed. However, advocates who produce valid proof of renewal may be permitted to vote.
5,108 Advocates Found Eligible to Vote
During the hearing, the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council informed the Court that 5,108 members of the Oudh Bar Association had been identified as eligible voters.
An examination of their records revealed that 155 members had registered voting locations elsewhere, while another 145 had not renewed their Certificates of Practice.
The Bench directed that both categories be excluded from voting, subject to the relaxation available to advocates who establish that their certificates have been validly renewed.
Certificate Verification Mandatory Under BCI Rules
Referring to the Bar Council of India’s 2015 rules governing the verification of Certificates of Practice and places of practice, the Court observed that advocates must complete the verification and renewal process every five years.
The Bench noted that a valid and verified Certificate of Practice is necessary for advocates to practise law and exercise their voting rights in Bar Association elections.
During the proceedings, one of the parties alleged that approximately 400 individuals had already participated in elections conducted by the Lucknow Bar Association and the Central Bar Association.
However, considering the limited time remaining before the October 28 polling, the Court declined to examine or decide the allegation at this stage.
Bar Council Directed to Launch Online Verification Portal
To address recurring disputes over voter eligibility, the High Court directed the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council to develop an online system within six months for verifying advocates’ Certificates of Practice.
The proposed portal must allow users to access certificate details by entering an advocate’s name or enrolment number.
It must also display the dates and particulars of any modifications made to a certificate, enabling verification of changes in an advocate’s registration details.
The Bar Council has been directed to submit an affidavit after six months confirming compliance with these directions.
Original Certificates Required for Future Elections
The Court further directed that advocates participating in future Bar Association elections must produce their original Certificates of Practice rather than certificate cards to establish their eligibility.
However, this requirement will not automatically apply to the ongoing 2026 elections. The election officer may decide whether to enforce it during the present electoral process.
The Bench also directed the High Court administration to take necessary precautions to prevent outsiders and ineligible individuals from entering the polling premises on election day.
The directions seek to ensure that only eligible advocates participate in the October 28 Oudh Bar Association elections while establishing a verification mechanism for subsequent elections.
