Jaipur: Rajasthan High Court Bar Association election committee’s criteria requiring advocates to have at least two court appearances or have filed two vakalatnamas to qualify for voting have been challenged before Rajasthan High Court.Advocate Dinesh Kumar Pathak filed a petition challenging the criteria Wednesday, alleging that the rules are arbitrary and discriminatory, particularly against junior advocates and notaries. He has also questioned the timing of the eligibility notice and sought acceptance of alternative documents to establish voting eligibility. The petition will be heard by Justice Anand Sharma on Nov 6.In his petition, Pathak apprehended that the requirement could exclude a large number of practising lawyers, particularly junior advocates, notaries and oath commissioners.The petition also questions the election committee’s decision to fix Nov 2 as the cut-off date for submitting documents, even though the eligibility notice was issued only on Nov 3. The petitioner has questioned the fairness of prescribing a cut-off date preceding the issuance of the notice.The 43rd executive committee of Rajasthan High Court Bar Association, Jaipur, is scheduled to go to the polls on Dec 11. The election committee issued its first notice on Nov 3, laying down the conditions for determining voting eligibility.Pathak has also raised concerns over the exclusion of advocates working with law firms and various institutions. He has sought the acceptance of alternative documents, including certificates issued by senior advocates and retainership agreements, to establish an advocate’s eligibility to vote.The petitioner has sought a stay on the disputed eligibility condition and directions to the election committee to consider alternative documents and prepare the final electoral roll accordingly.
