Srinagar, Dec 23, KNT: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at Srinagar has stayed the proposed elections of the District Bar Association Shopian after finding a prima facie case in a petition challenging amendments made to the Bar’s constitution in 2023.
The order was passed by Justice Rajesh Sekhri while hearing a writ petition filed by Advocate Abdul Basit Bhat, a practising lawyer from District Shopian, who questioned the legality of amendments introduced to the Bar Association’s constitution. The petitioner contended that the amendments were brought in by a limited number of Bar members without any enabling provision in the earlier 2012 constitution and were aimed at restricting young advocates from participating in the Bar elections.
According to the petition, the amendment allegedly curtailed the democratic rights of a section of advocates by imposing eligibility conditions that did not exist earlier. The petitioner also informed the court that on October 17, 2025, he had applied for copies of the amended constitution, details of members who proposed the amendment, notices issued for the general body meeting, minutes of the meeting, the list of members who voted in favour of the amendment, and the circular notifying its adoption. However, he claimed that none of the requested information had been provided to him till date.
The petitioner, as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust further challenged a notification dated December 11, 2025, issued by the Election Commission for holding fresh elections of the District Bar Association Shopian on December 27, 2025.
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After hearing the matter, the court observed that a prima facie case for indulgence was made out. It issued notice to the respondents, including the District Bar Association Shopian and the Chief Election Commissioner, returnable within four weeks. The court directed that requisite steps be taken within one week and permitted dasti service.
The court ordered that the impugned election notification dated December 11, 2025, shall remain stayed for the time being. The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 27, 2026, subject to objections from the other side. [KNT]
