Overview
- The Allahabad High Court issued a 61-page order on Monday that prevents advocates charged with offences carrying more than seven years’ jail from practising until their disciplinary proceedings or criminal trials conclude.
- The court recorded official police data showing 4,157 advocates are implicated in 5,056 criminal cases out of 514,439 enrolments in Uttar Pradesh, with high concentrations near Lucknow’s Wazirgunj station and several commissionerates.
- To protect trials from local influence the court ordered a five-year pilot to transfer accused-advocate cases en bloc to transferee districts within about 100 kilometres and required transferee courts to get police records and secure independent witnesses.
- The bench ordered the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh to lodge FIRs against 105 advocates found to have forged qualifications, sharply criticised the council’s lack of police verification for Certificates of Practice, and flagged stalled disciplinary committees.
- The order sets firm timelines and checks: the registrar must issue transfer notifications within 30 days, district judges and police must hold monthly coordination meetings, and a consolidated compliance report is due before the court on August 20, 2026.