On October 28, 2026, the J&K district magistrate of Anantnag declared the district bar association’s elections, held the day before, null and void. The order dismissed the results of a vote that saw 700 lawyers elect a president and secretary.
The magistrate cited violations of the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and the Indian Trust Act, 1882, noting that the association had failed to submit a registration certificate, constitution, by‑laws, membership roster and financial statements before voting. An earlier order dated January 2, 2025, had already barred the association from holding elections without proper documentation, and a September 28, 2026 decree reaffirmed that prohibition.
The decision follows a wave of scrutiny over civil‑society bodies after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Bar associations and trade unions were put under tighter regulation, and many were forced to re‑register. In 2024, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah pledged to revive such institutions, but the latest ruling shows the limits of that promise.
Lawyers in Anantnag have expressed frustration. "We spent weeks campaigning for fair representation, only to have our votes wiped out," said senior counsel Ramesh Kumar. The bar’s executive committee is now suspended, and the association’s operations are on hold pending compliance.
The magistrate’s decree calls for the association to submit all required documents before it can hold another election. A new vote will be scheduled once the bar re‑obtains registration and satisfies the legal prerequisites, the order states.