Oudh Bar Elections | No Posters, Processions Or Food Distribution Within HC Premises: Allahabad High Court Directs Candidates
The Allahabad High Court has directed candidates contesting the 2026-27 elections of the Oudh Bar Association not to paste posters or stickers, take out processions or distribute food items within the High Court premises in connection with the elections.
A Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla also prohibited candidates from distributing handbills and pamphlets to members of the Bar inside the High Court compound and within a 100-metre radius outside the Court premises.
The directions were passed while considering an application seeking modification of an earlier order in WPIL No. 177 of 2026.
The application sought to restrain the candidates from pasting stickers, banners, or hoardings either in the High Court premises or outside the High Court. It also sought directions against the blocking of roads by putting up tents and to restrain them from distributing food items within the Court premises, especially on election day.
It was argued that such conduct "not only sullies the aesthetics of building/premises but even otherwise is impermissible".
However, the bench noted that since the PIL in question had already been decided, it was appropriate to register a separate Suo Motu PIL with the title "In Re: Conduct of Elections to the Oudh Bar Association".
While directing this PIL to be listed on September 29, along with a 2021 PIL concerning the conduct of elections to the Oudh Bar Association, the Court directed the Senior Registrar of the High Court to conduct an inquiry and take photographs and get videography done of the relevant portions inside and outside the High Court premises.
The inquiry is intended to ascertain the posters, stickers etc. which may have been pasted on the walls and other places and submit a report in this regard to this Court with names and other details of the candidates whose posters, etc. may have been pasted.
The High Court also referred to the Supreme Court's decision in Amit Sachan v. Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh, which arose from directions issued by the Allahabad High Court in 2021 concerning elections of the Oudh Bar Association.
Among other things, the earlier directions required the Elders' Committee to formulate a code of conduct for elections and prohibited canvassing through visiting cards, cards, pamphlets or posters.
The distribution of lunch packets, refreshments, and similar items before or during the election was also prohibited. The earlier directions further provided that members found distributing such items could be debarred from contesting elections.
The High Court noted that a Special Leave Petition challenging those directions had been filed before the Supreme Court and subsequently dismissed, with the High Court's directions and observations approved.
The Bench also referred to the Supreme Court's observations in R. Muthukrishnan v. Registrar General, High Court of Judicature at Madras, concerning the conduct expected of members of the Bar.
The Supreme Court, as quoted in the present order, had emphasized that there was no room for "procession in the court premises, slogan raising in the courts, use of loudspeakers", or for conduct that creates a disturbance to the peaceful, respectful, and dignified functioning of the Court.
Against this backdrop, the High Court directed all candidates whose posters or stickers had been pasted or affixed anywhere inside or outside the High Court premises to immediately take measures to remove them. The Court further directed that no candidate shall:
• take out a procession within the High Court premises in connection with the Oudh Bar election;
• distribute food items within the premises; or
• distribute handbills and pamphlets to members of the Bar inside the High Court compound and within 100 meters outside the premises.
The Court made it clear that violation of these directions would entail debarment from being considered for the elections and may also lead to other consequences, including reference of the matter to the Bar Council or such other action as the Court may consider necessary.
During the hearing, members of the Bar suggested that a "Know Your Candidate" (KYC) program, which had been conducted during the previous election, could again be organized.
Under the program, candidates contesting different posts addressed members of the Oudh Bar Association, enabling members to know the candidates before voting.
The Returning Officer, R.B.S. Rathor, who was present before the Court, stated that he would consider the suggestion and do the needful.
Members also suggested that the Returning Officer or Elders Committee could use Bar funds to provide food to voters on polling day instead of candidates making such arrangements. The Returning Officer stated that he would explore the suggestion in consultation with the Elders Committee.
The matter will next be taken up on September 29.
Case title - In Re: Conduct of Elections to the Oudh Bar Association