Soni Sharma, Advocate (Enroll No. 05560/2015) vs Lucknow Bar Association, Lucknow Thru Chairman Elders Committee- Sri Jai Singh and Ors. — Allahabad HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Soni Sharma, Advocate (Enroll No. 05560/2015) vs Lucknow Bar Association, Lucknow Thru Chairman Elders Committee- Sri Jai Singh and Ors. — Allahabad HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Interim directions only; no final adjudication. (i) Dasti notice to the petitioner for service upon Opposite Party No. 1; (ii) District Judge, Lucknow to communicate the order to Opposite Party No. 1 and submit a report of service; (iii) petitioner directed to delete Opposite Parties No. 4 and 5 from the array of parties; (iv) matter to come up afresh on 17.04.2026.

Issue for consideration

Whether Opposite Party No. 1 (Lucknow Bar Association) must comply with the Supreme Court's directions dated 24.03.2025 and 16.01.2026, including ensuring 30% representation for women as office bearers/Executive members, in the ensuing elections, given that the Elders Committee's resolution does not mention such compliance. +1 more

Court's answer

Directed that Dasti Notice be issued to the petitioner for service upon Opposite Party No. 1.

Ratio / Principle

Directed the District Judge, Lucknow to communicate the order to Opposite Party No. 1 and submit a report of service.

Key takeaways

Held that Opposite Parties No. 4 and 5 are not necessary parties: their terms as office bearers have already expired and the Elders Committee is now managing the association and conducting the elections.ratio¶5
Directed the petitioner to delete Opposite Parties No. 4 and 5 from the array of parties.ratio¶5

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench), Court No. 1; PIL/WPIL No. 318 of 2026; Soni Sharma, Advocate v. Lucknow Bar Association, Lucknow thru Chairman, Elders Committee (Sri Jai Singh) & Ors.; order dated 09.04.2026 before Hon'ble Rajan Roy and Hon'ble Manjive Shukla, JJ. Interim order ahead of the Lucknow Bar Association elections (schedule notified 10.03.2026; polls fixed for 23.04.2026): counsel agreed that the Supreme Court's directions dated 24.03.2025 and 16.01.2026 — including 30% representation for women as office bearers/Executive members — are to be complied with by Opposite Party No. 1, while the Elders Committee's resolution does not mention this compliance. The Court ordered Dasti notice to the petitioner for service on Opposite Party No. 1, directed the District Judge, Lucknow to communicate the order and submit a report of service, held Opposite Parties No. 4 and 5 to be unnecessary parties (their terms as office bearers having expired, with the Elders Committee now managing the association and conducting the elections) and directed the petitioner to delete them from the array of parties; matter listed afresh for 17.04.2026.

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD LUCKNOW

PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) No. - 318 of 2026

Soni Sharma, Advocate (Enroll No. 05560/2015)

.....Petitioner(s)

Versus

Lucknow Bar Association, Lucknow Thru Chairman Elders Committee- Sri Jai Singh And Ors.

.....Respondent(s)

Counsel for Petitioner(s) : Rohit Mishra, Km. Vishwa Mohini Counsel for Respondent(s) : Durgesh Kumar Shukla, Shishir Jain

Court No. - 1

HON'BLE RAJAN ROY, J. HON'BLE MANJIVE SHUKLA, J.

Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the parties.

Learned counsel for the petitioner, as also, learned counsel for the Opposite Parties No. 4 and 5, who has put in appearance and wants to file Vakalatnama, apparently agree that the directions of Hon'ble the Supreme Court dated 24.03.2025 and 16.01.2026 are to be complied by the Opposite Party No. 1 in the context of the ensuing elections. The schedule of elections has been notified on 10.03.2026. Elections are scheduled to be held on 23.04.2026. As per the order of Hon'ble the Supreme Court, 30% representation for women as office bearers / Executive members is to be ensured. The resolution of the Elders Committee does not mention about this compliance.

Let Dasti Notice be issued to the petitioner for service upon Opposite Party No. 1. In addition to it, we direct the District Judge, Lucknow to communicate this order to Opposite Party No. 1 and submit a report of service.

Matter shall come up on 17.04.2026, as fresh.

We are of the opinion that Opposite Parties No. 4 and 5 are not necessary parties in this writ petition, as their terms of office bearers has already expired and admittedly, the Elders Committee is now, managing the association and is also conducting elections, we,

WPIL No. 318 of 2026

2

therefore, direct the petitioner to delete the Opposite Parties No. 4 and 5 from the array of parties.

April 9, 2026 Lokesh Kumar

(Manjive Shukla,J.) (Rajan Roy,J.)

Digitally signed by :- LOKESH KUMAR High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench