Bail amount doubled for Allahabad HC Bar Association elections, lawyers lodge objections

Bar Association elections are costlier than Lok Sabha and Assembly elections

Prayagraj, 06 March: Allahabad High Court Bar Association elections have become more expensive than Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections. While there is controversy regarding the voter list, anger is being seen among the lawyers regarding other matters including bail amount and number of cases. 

In three days, hundreds of advocates have complained to the officials of the High Court Bar Association, the Elder Committee and the Election Committee, demanding its withdrawal. On Wednesday also a large number of advocates submitted a demand letter in this regard.

In the memorandum submitted to the High Court Bar Association Executive, Elder Committee and Election Committee, the advocates say that the security deposit deposited by the candidates in the last two years. That amount was half of the security money being deposited at present. This means that this year double the bail amount is being taken. 

For example, this amount for the President has been increased to Rs 1 lakh. Whereas Rs 70 thousand is being charged for the General Secretary. Whereas, the security deposit amount of Lok Sabha candidates is four times less than that of the Speaker candidate. The Lok Sabha candidate had to deposit Rs 25,000 in the 2019 elections. Whereas, in the 2022 assembly elections, the candidates had to deposit Rs 10,000 as security deposit. Whereas, in the High Court Bar Association elections, the officials of the Governing Council have to deposit security amount equal to that of the candidates in the Assembly elections.

In the demand letter submitted, a large number of advocates including advocate Mrityanjay Tiwari, Venu Gopal, Parijat Tiwari, Anand Srivastava, Sudhir, Prakhar Srivastava say that the election committee has also asked for the details of the cases wrongly. 

they said that the amended bylaws of Allahabad High Court have come into effect from December 1, 2022. Ever since the amended bylaws came into force, the election committee should have worked accordingly. Whereas, the Election Committee has implemented the amended bylaws even before that. Whereas, the Corona period lasted from 2020 to 2022. Advocates were worried at that time. Therefore, details of cases of one year only should be taken from the candidates like last year. 

These advocates accused the election committee that the committee did not even take consensus from the advocates while deciding the bail amount and the number of cases.

Apart from this, despite objections being lodged regarding the voter list, the complete list was not released. 

Advocates told that despite membership fees and five cases, their names are not included in the list. Whereas, they also lodged an objection. Hundreds of advocates have similar complaints. 

Advocates also stated that by implementing the code of conduct, the Election Committee has banned the use of all types of election campaign material by the candidates but has not told how the candidates should campaign. Whereas, it has been two days since the sale of nomination papers. Therefore, the bail amount should be reduced. Keeping in view the times of Covid, details of cases of one year only should be taken like last year. Also, the names of the advocates who lodged objections should be included in the voter list.