Read Time: 06 minutes

The Allahabad High Court has delivered its judgment in the suo motu case relating to unruly behavior of the lawyers during the recent election of Awadh Bar Association.

The court has fixed Sep 25 for conducting the earlier suspended elections for the year 2021. A division bench of Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh pronounced the judgment in an open court framing guidelines for conducting the elections on the next date.

The court has fixed mandatory conditions for a Member of Awadh Bar Association to participate in the election 2021 either for the purpose of contesting the election or casting his/her vote after considering the broad consensus amongst the Members of the Bar.

The Court stated that the conditions are fixed to maintain the purity of democratic process in the Bar elections so that the elected body truly represents the Bar of this High Court at Lucknow.

Guidelines:

1. The U.P. Bar Council shall issue necessary circular or order implementing the principle of 'one Bar one Vote'.

2. The U.P. Bar Council shall direct all the registered Bar Associations to put on their website/notice board the names of members who have cast their vote in last three years i.e., 2018, 2019 and 2020.

3. The Central Bar Association, Lucknow Bar Association, State Public Services Tribunal Bar Association, Central Administrative Tribunal Bar Association and Armed Forces Tribunal Bar Association are directed to put on their website/notice board the list of members who have casted their vote in last three elections i.e., 2018, 2019 and 2020.

4. The Elders' Committee, Awadh Bar Association shall formulate 'code of conduct' for elections keeping in view the recommendations and directions issued today.

5. Canvassing by distribution of visiting cards/cards, pamphlets or poster should be prohibited in the elections of the Awadh Bar Association. Distribution of lunch packets, refreshment, etc. should not be allowed either before or during the election and all those who are found distributing such things should be debarred from contesting elections. Hosting or arranging dinner parties for canvassing for elections should be prohibited.

6. Senior Registrar or any other Officer deputed by him in consultation with the Elders' Committee shall debar such Members of Awadh Bar Association from participating the ensuing election who may be found having indulged in misbehaviour and disrupting the process of election on 14.8.2021 while the polling was in process, after due verification of the complaints received and perusal of video clipping and such other evidence as may be available.

The Court fixed the elections on Sep 25 with further mandatory conditions for a Member of Awadh Bar Association to participate in the 2021 elections either for the purpose of contesting the election or casting his/her vote.