- (1.) This is a writ petition by Mr. Chandra Narayan Tripathi who proposes to contest for the post of Secretary in the impending elections of the Bar Association, High Court Allahabad, due to be held on 2.3.2006.
(2.) This matter was referred to the full Bench on account of the importance of the issues involved, both for the Judiciary and for the Bar. Arguments have been made on this occasion by several learned advocates, some of whom we shall mention hereafter. The last elections of the Bar Association were held as far back as in the month of December, 2003 and thereafter the elections have long been overdue. Instead of the usual prescribed period of one year, nearly two and a half years have gone by.
(3.) For the purpose of these elections, the General Council of the Bar Association met on or about 30th September, 2005 and they fixed the 15th of November of that year as the last date for deposit of arrears of fees by the members who intended to cast their votes in the election. The last date was extended from time to time; the last such formal extension being decided in the said General Council on the 22nd of December, 2005 and the last extended date was the 6th of February this year.;