The Allahabad High Court recently directed the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh to decide objections raised by the 'Advocate Bar Association (ABA), District Bareilly', against the affiliation granted to the 'Bareilly Bar Association' (BBA), after giving both sides an opportunity of hearing.

A Bench of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prashad thus disposed of a writ petition filed by the Advocate Bar Association (ABA), District Bareilly and Advocate Gaurav Singh Rathore.

The petitioners challenged the affiliation on the ground that the BBA had not supplied the requisite documents necessary for valid affiliation under the Model By-laws and circular letters issued by the Bar Council.

Senior Advocate RK Ojha, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the affiliation was granted merely on an affidavit-based assurance, without the requisite documents being supplied.

He further submitted that the petitioner [Advocate Bar Association, District Bareilly], was a validly recognised Bar Association. However, he did not dispute that both the petitioner association and the BBA were registered under the Societies Registration Act.

The petitioners also informed the Court that they had already filed objections before the State Bar Council regarding the recognition granted to the BBA. They requested that the objections be directed to be decided in accordance with law.

Opposing the petition, Senior Advocate Prabhakar Awasthi, appearing for the BBA, submitted that it was one of the oldest bodies of advocates and had been registered under the Societies Registration Act since 1984.

He contended that the petitioner association was a breakaway group of lawyers which had obtained registration only in 2026, after losing the lawyers' election held by the Bareilly Bar Association.

He further submitted that the petitioners had no locus to question the renewal of affiliation granted to the Bareilly Bar Association, which had already been affiliated with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh.

During the hearing, counsel for the Bar Council of UP submitted that if the petitioners had filed objections before the Bar Council, it would consider and decide them in accordance with law within two months.

Taking note of the submission, the High Court disposed of the writ petition and directed the UP Bar Council to decide the petitioners' objections in accordance with law, after hearing both sides.

The Court directed that the same be done within two months.