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Lucknow: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad HC on Monday barred 300 member advocates of the Oudh Bar Association (OBA) from voting in its annual general elections scheduled for Oct 28. The court ruled that 155 advocates whose certificates of practice (COPs) mention a place other than the OBA, Lucknow, as their voting location and 145 whose certificates have not been renewed will not be allowed to vote. During the hearing, a party alleged that around 400 individuals had already voted in the Lucknow Bar Association and Central Bar Association elections.
The court said there was insufficient time to inquire into the allegation and declined to decide the issue at this stage. However, advocates who produce valid proof of renewal may be permitted to cast their votes. A division bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation, noting that only two days remained before polling. The court directed the UP Bar Council to develop an online system within six months through which an advocate’s COP can be accessed by entering their name or enrolment number. The portal must also display the date and details of changes made to the certificate. The Bar Council has been directed to file a compliance affidavit after six months.
This requirement will not apply to the ongoing 2026 elections unless the election officer decides to implement it. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in Lucknow Stay updated with the latest Lucknow news. The court directed that in future elections advocates should be allowed to vote only upon producing their original COP certificates rather than COP cards. Download the TOI App.