By Hasnain Khawja

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association stands as a crucial institution representing the legal fraternity, ensuring the fair administration of justice and upholding the rule of law. However, in recent years, the association has been plagued by a severe democratic deficit, with its functioning effectively hijacked by a closed group operating in a completely opaque and undemocratic manner. The legal community, which has long been committed to upholding constitutional values, now finds itself denied the basic right to participate in the affairs of its own representative body.

For a considerable period, elections within the Bar Association have been delayed indefinitely, and key decisions are being taken without consulting the general body. The very essence of a democratically functioning Bar Association—which relies on transparency, accountability, and regular elections—has been replaced by arbitrary decision-making. The continued exclusion of members from the electoral process has led to growing discontent within the legal fraternity, raising serious concerns about the credibility and fairness of the Association’s leadership.

One of the most alarming aspects of this situation is the fact that the J&K High Court Bar Association, which was previously unregistered, has now been duly registered. If the Association is now legally recognized and in full consonance with the Advocates Act, 1961, there exists no justifiable........

© Kashmir Observer