1

A.F.R.
Chief Justice's Court
Case :- WRIT - C No. - 49664 of 2014
Petitioner :- Agra Advocates Association And Another
Respondent :- State f !.". And 2 thers
Counsel for Petitioner :- Ra#esh $ishra
Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C.%Ra& '(&ar $a)vi*a
Hon'ble Dr. Dhananjaya esh!ant Chandrachud" Chief Justice
Hon'ble Dilip #upta" J.
These +rit ,roceedings have -een instit(ted -* the Agra Advocates
Association and its .enera) Secretar* for cha))enging an order ,assed on
12 A(g(st 2014 -* the /ice-Chair,erson of the 0ar Co(nci) of !ttar
"radesh in his ca,acit* as officiating Chair,erson -* +hich the affi)iation
+hich +as granted to the first ,etitioner on 1 1(ne 2014 has -een reca))ed.
A&ong the f(nctions of the State 0ar Co(nci) in Section 62132dd3
of the Advocates Act% 1961
1
is to ,ro&ote the gro+th of 0ar Associations
for the ,(r,oses of effective i&,)e&entation of the +e)fare sche&es
referred to in c)a(se 2a3 of s(--section 223 of Section 4 of the Act. Section
6223 e&,o+ers the State 0ar Co(nci) to constit(te one or &ore f(nds for
the ,(r,ose of giving financia) assistance to organise +e)fare sche&es for
the indigent% disa-)ed or other advocates and for esta-)ishing )a+
)i-raries. A )arge n(&-er of +e)fare sche&es have -een initiated -* the
0ar Co(nci) of India. Si&i)ar)*% Advocates5 We)fare 6(nds have -een
created (nder the !ttar "radesh Advocates5 We)fare 6(nd Act% 1944.
These +e)fare sche&es have given rise to a n(&-er of Associations of
Advocates at the district )eve). The State 0ar Co(nci) fra&ed the 0ar
1 the Act
2
Association Affi)iation R()es% 1949
2
and )ater the 0ar Co(nci) !ttar
"radesh Adhiva7ta Sangh Sa&-adhan Ni*a&a+a)i% 2008
9
20ar Co(nci)
!ttar "radesh Advocates Association Affi)iation R()es% 20083.
The case of the ,etitioner is that the strength of ,racticing
advocates at the Civi) Co(rt in Agra is &ore than 4000 and the
&e&-ershi, of the first ,etitioner is ,ro:i&ate)* 9;1 advocates. The
Agra 0ar Association% Civi) Co(rt% Agra% +hich is an esta-)ished
Association% has restricted its &e&-ershi, to 800 advocates as a res()t of
+hich% according to the ,etitioner% a )arge n(&-er of advocates have -een
de,rived of the &e&-ershi, of a 0ar Association. In this -ac7gro(nd% the
first ,etitioner +as registered (nder the Societies Registration Act% 1;60
-* a registration certificate dated 2; $a* 2014. I&&ediate)*% after
o-taining the registration of the first ,etitioner as a Societ*% an
a,,)ication +as &ade to the State 0ar Co(nci) for affi)iation. The ffice
S(,erintendent &ade a re,ort on 91 $a* 2014 to the effect that a))
for&a)ities have -een co&,)ied +ith e:ce,t for a )ist of &e&-ers. The
case of the ,etitioner is that the then Chair,erson of the 0ar Co(nci)
acce,ted the re,ort and ,er&itted the ,etitioner to fi)e a )ist of &e&-ers
+hich +as thereafter fi)ed. An order of affi)iation +as ,assed on 1 1(ne
2014 -* Sri /ina* Chandra $ishra% the then Chair,erson of the 0ar
Co(nci).
An order has -een ,assed -* the officiating Chair,erson
+ithdra+ing the affi)iation. In the order reca))ing the affi)iation% it has
2 R()es of 1949
9 R()es of 2008
9
-een noted that in Agra there is a 0ar Association in the Civi) Co(rt
,re&ises% na&e)* the Agra 0ar Association +hich is affi)iated to the State
0ar Co(nci). It has -een stated that the first ,etitioner for +ho&
affi)iation +as so(ght +as a))o+ed to -e affi)iated on 1 1(ne 2014 in a
<&ost ar-itrar* and i))ega) &anner= -* the then Chair,erson as it +as
inc(&-ent (,on the State 0ar Co(nci) to iss(e a notice ,roviding an
o,,ort(nit* to the office -earers and &e&-ers of the Agra 0ar
Association +hich +as a)read* affi)iated to the State 0ar Co(nci). Since
no notice +as given to the e:isting Association% the order of affi)iation
has -een >(ashed and set aside.
?(ring the co(rse of hearing% the ,rinci,a) iss(e +hich has
e&erged -efore the Co(rt is +hether the officiating Chair,erson of the
State 0ar Co(nci)% or for that &atter the Chair,erson% has the ,o+er
(nder the affi)iation R()es to cance) an affi)iation +hich has -een granted
to a 0ar Association. In this regard% it +o()d -e a,,ro,riate to refer to the
ear)ier R()es of 1949 and thereafter to the ,resent R()es of 2008 +hich
ho)d the fie)d.
Rules of $%&%
C)a(se 12a3 of the R()es of 1949 defines the e:,ression
5Association5 to &ean a -od* of advocates registered (nder the Societies
Registration Act% 1;60 +ith at )east 80 &e&-ers% if the Association is
f(nctioning at the ?istrict @ead A(arters and 28 &e&-ers in an* other
case. The 0ar Co(nci) has -een conferred +ith the ,o+er to re)a: the
condition re)ating to the n(&-er of &e&-ers for good and s(fficient
4
reasons. The e:,ression 5Co(nci)5 is defined in C)a(se 12-3 to &ean the
0ar Co(nci) of !ttar "radesh% +hi)e C)a(se 12c3 defines the e:,ression
5Advocates5 to &ean s(ch )ega) ,ractitioners +hose na&es a,,ear on the
Ro)) of Advocates &aintained -* the 0ar Co(nci). C)a(se 22a3 re>(ires
ever* Association desiro(s of o-taining affi)iation to a,,)* for affi)iation
in the ,rescri-ed for&. A rene+a) fee is thereafter ,a*a-)e each *ear to
the 0ar Co(nci) for contin(ing affi)iation. C)a(se 22-3 re>(ires that an
Association sha)) for+ard to the Co(nci) the na&es of the &e&-ers and
office -earers ever* *ear a)ong +ith the a,,)ication for rene+a). C)a(se
92a3 s,ecifies the o-)igations of an affi)iated Association to 7ee,% inter
alia, a vigi) over the ,rofessiona) activities of its &e&-ers and to infor&
the Co(nci) of a -reach of ,rofessiona) standards and eti>(ette or of an*
other &iscond(ct -* an advocate. The B:,)anation to C)a(se 9 re>(ires
the Co(nci) to 7ee, the affi)iated Association infor&ed of ever*
i&,ortant decision ta7en or reso)(tion ,assed -* it or -* the 0ar Co(nci)
of India. The Co(nci) has to assist financia))* or other+ise an affi)iated
0ar Association to i&,rove the )i-raries and -(i)ding. The affi)iated
Associations are re>(ired to carr* o(t the directions and instr(ctions
iss(ed -* the Co(nci). C)a(se 4 ,rovides for disaffi)iation of an
Association -* the Co(nci)% inter alia% if it fai)s to ,a* the rene+a) fee
+ithin a sti,()ated ,eriodC if the Association de)i-erate)* defies or
diso-e*s the directions and instr(ctions of the Co(nci)C if its &e&-ershi,
fa))s -e)o+ the ,rescri-ed )i&itC if the ann(a) e)ection is not he)d in
accordance +ith the R()es and Constit(tion ins,ite of the re>(est of the
8
Co(nci)C and for an* other reasons to -e ,rescri-ed -* the 0ar Co(nci)
fro& ti&e to ti&e.
Rules of '(()
The R()es of 2008 do not s,ecifica))* ,rovide that the* are in
s(,ersession of the ear)ier R()es of 1949 -(t% it +o()d c)ear fro& the
R()es that a co&,rehensive ,roced(re has -een s,e)t o(t therein for
affi)iation% disaffi)iation and other referred &atters. 6or the ,(r,ose of
these ,roceedings% it is not necessar* to e:,ress an* fina) o,inion on
+hether the R()es of 2008 have s(,erseded the R()es of 1949 since the
iss(e +hich fa))s for consideration is +hether the Chair,erson acting
individ(a))* has the ,o+er to disaffi)iate a 0ar Association to +hich an
affi)iation has -een granted ear)ier.
C)a(se 4243 of the R()es of 2008 s,ecifies that a 0ar Association
see7ing affi)iation to the State 0ar Co(nci) &(st have% at the ?istrict
@ead>(arters% a &ini&(& strength of 900 advocates and in other cases% of
80 advocates. @o+ever% the ,roviso e&,o+ers the 0ar Co(nci) to re)a:
the condition in certain s,ecific event(a)ities and ,rovides that the State
0ar Co(nci) +i)) affi)iate that Association +hich has the )argest strength
a&ongst the 0ar Associations. C)a(se 8 sti,()ates that ever* 0ar
Association% +hich has the &ini&(& strength as ,rescri-ed and +hich is
desiro(s of -eing affi)iated to the State 0ar Co(nci)% &a* a,,)* on
,a*&ent of a s,ecified fee for affi)iation. C)a(se 4213 sti,()ates that not
&ore than t+o 0ar Associations +o()d -e affi)iated in an* one c)ass
6
defined in C)a(se 4223. C)a(se 4223 conte&,)ates affi)iation -eing granted
to 0ar Associations in vario(s c)asses s(ch as D
2i3 0ar Associations for ?istrict and Sessions Co(rtsC
2ii3 0ar Associations for Reven(e Co(rtsC
2iii3 0ar Associations for Inco&e Ta:C
2iv3 0ar Associations for Co&&issionerate and for Tehsi) Co(rtsC
2v3 0ar Associations for Service Tri-(na)s -oth State and
Centra)C and
2vi3 0ar Associations at the )eve) of @igh Co(rts -oth at
A))aha-ad and at E(c7no+.
C)a(se 10 of the R()es of 2008 ,rovides for circ(&stances in
+hich an affi)iation can -e cance))ed. The circ(&stances +hich are s,e)t
o(t therein areD
2i3 fai)(re of a 0ar Association% +ithin a ,eriod of three &onths
of its rene+a)% to co&,)* +ith a)) the re>(ire&ents for rene+a)C
2ii3 a -reach -* the 0ar Association of the directions of the State
0ar Co(nci)C
2iii3 fai)(re to ho)d ann(a) e)ectionsC and
2iv3 +here the infor&ation or doc(&entar* &ateria) +hich is
,rovided to the State 0ar Co(nci) is fo(nd to -e (ntr(e or s(ffering
fro& an* &isre,resentation.
The R()es of 2008 do not contain an* ,rovision for de)egating the
,o+er of the State 0ar Co(nci) to disaffi)iate a 0ar Association to the
4
Chair,erson of the State 0ar Co(nci). ?(ring the co(rse of these
,roceedings% a co(nter affidavit has -een fi)ed on -eha)f of the State 0ar
Co(nci) -* its Secretar* s,ecifica))* stating that there is no de)egation of
the ,o+er of the 0ar Co(nci) to the Chair,erson either +ith res,ect to the
e:ercise of the ,o+er of affiliation or disaffiliation. We +i)) dea) +ith that
as,ect of the &atter )ater% -(t at this stage it +o()d s(ffice to note that
there is no s,ecific ,rovision in the R()es of 2008 ena-)ing the
Chair,erson to e:ercise the ,o+er of disaffi)iation. n the contrar*% the
,rovisions contained in C)a(se 10 of the R()es of 2008 +o()d indicate
that the ,o+er to cance) an affi)iation is for -reach% inter alia% of the
conditions of the 0ar Co(nci) re>(ired to -e f()fi))ed -* the 0ar
Association in the &atter of rene+a)C or +here there is a -reach in
co&,)*ing +ith the directions of the 0ar Co(nci) or +here it is fo(nd that
the infor&ation +hich has -een f(rnished to the 0ar Co(nci) has -een
fo(nd to -e a &isre,resentation or (ntr(e. 0efore the Chair,erson can
ass(&e the ,o+ers to disaffi)iate a 0ar Association% there has to -e a
s,ecific de)egation (nder the R()es% +hich is a-sent in the ,resent case.
Conse>(ent)*% the officiating Chair,erson of the State 0ar Co(nci) had no
#(risdiction or a(thorit* to ,ass the i&,(gned order dated 12 A(g(st
2014. The said order is )ia-)e to -e set aside. We order according)*.
?(ring the co(rse of hearing% it has -een ,ointed o(t -* the )earned
Senior Co(nse) a,,earing on -eha)f of the ,etitioners that insofar as the
affi)iating ,o+er is concerned% the consistent co(rse of ,ractice over the
)ast thirt* *ears is that affi)iations have -een ro(tine)* granted -* the
;
Chair,erson of the State 0ar Co(nci) and this ,o+er has never -een
constr(ed as a -reach -* the 0ar Co(nci) itse)f. An a,,rehension has
-een e:,ressed that in the event that this Co(rt +ere to ho)d that the
,o+er to disaffi)iate a 0ar Association is not vested in the Chair,erson
acting individ(a))*% a si&i)ar vie+ in regard to the ,o+er to grant
affi)iation +o()d a,,)* +hich &a* (nsett)e the affi)iations a)read*
granted and ca(se a great dea) of (ncertaint*. n this as,ect of the &atter%
+e &a* c)arif* that the )i&ited iss(e -efore the Co(rt +hich is -eing
addressed in these ,roceedings is that the Chair,erson of the State 0ar
Co(nci) has no #(risdiction to e:ercise the ,o+er to disaffi)iate a 0ar
Association acting individ(a))* and the e:ercise of the ,o+er of
disaffi)iation &(st necessari)* -e &ade -* the 0ar Co(nse) as a co))ective
-od*% ,artic()ar)* in the a-sence of an* de)egation of ,o+er or a
,rovision for de)egation in the R()es.
We have not e:,ressed an* o,inion in regard to the origina)
affi)iation granted to the 0ar Associations concerned. @o+ever% +e &a*
o-serve at this stage that it +i)) -e o,en to the 0ar Co(nci)% +hen it
considers the &atter in regard to the +ithdra+a) of affi)iation% to have d(e
regard to the sett)ed ,ractice% if an*% (,on +hich re)iance has -een ,)aced
-* the ,etitioners and to deter&ine as to +hether a ro-(st decision sho()d
-e ta7en so as to ens(re that affi)iations +hich have -een granted in the
,ast and +hich have contin(ed to e:ist ti)) date sho()d -e saved. We
e:,ress no o,inion on that iss(e and )eave the entire &atter for
consideration -* the State 0ar Co(nci) in the right ,ers,ective.
9
We% according)*% a))o+ the ,etition and set aside the i&,(gned
order dated 12 A(g(st 2014 c)arif*ing% that the State 0ar Co(nci) +o()d
-e at )i-ert* to consider the iss(e afresh in accordance +ith )a+ having
regard to the o-servations +hich are contained in this #(dg&ent.
Date: $%.(%.'($*
+,
-Dr. D.. Chandrachud" C.J..
-Dilip #upta" J..