New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday extended the deadline for conducting the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council elections until February 2, 2026. This decision follows a chaotic turn of events during the Lucknow leg of the polls, where security concerns and administrative lapses led to a complete cancellation of the proceedings at the High Court premises.
The Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh is currently undergoing its electoral process in phases under the supervision of a High-Powered Election Committee. This follows a landmark Supreme Court directive mandating that all State Bar Council elections across India be completed by January 31, 2026, to ensure democratic accountability within the legal fraternity.
The third phase of the UP elections was scheduled for January 27 and 28 across 18 districts, including Lucknow, Kanpur, and Meerut. In Lucknow, the voting was designated to take place within the Lucknow High Court premises.
On January 27, 2026, as voting commenced in Lucknow, the arrangements were quickly overwhelmed by an influx of more than 25,000 advocates. Reports indicated significant disorder, with several contesting lawyers alleging severe mismanagement.
The situation escalated in the afternoon when ballot papers were reportedly discovered outside the polling station. This led to a large-scale protest by advocates, characterized by slogan-shouting and a breach of the polling perimeter. By 4:00 PM, the atmosphere had deteriorated to the point where security could no longer be guaranteed.
Returning Officer Justice (Retd) AK Tripathi and Observer Justice (Retd) Surendra Singh subsequently issued an order cancelling the votes cast on Tuesday and postponing the polling scheduled. The committee cited “security concerns” and the “unruly behavior” that imperiled the decorum of the High Court premises as the primary reasons for the halt.
Supreme Court Proceedings
During the hearing before the bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI), the counsel representing the election authorities informed the Court of the ground realities in Lucknow.
The Counsel stated before the Supreme Court that the Lucknow election was held in HC premises; because of security concerns, it was cancelled. That is why we are seeking 2-4 days’ time for carrying out the process in Prayagraj.
The counsel emphasized that moving ahead with the remaining process in Prayagraj and reorganizing the logistics would require a brief extension beyond the original January 31 deadline.
Acknowledging the hurdles and the need to maintain the integrity of the electoral process, the CJI-led bench granted the request for additional time.
CJI ordered that the last date for conducting elections at the Bar Council of UP is extended upto 2nd February.
The Court’s extension provides a narrow window for the Bar Council to renotify the polling dates and conclude the voting for the eligible advocates.
