Anantnag, Oct 29 (KNS): The District Magistrate of Anantnag has declared the recent elections of the District Bar Association (DBA) Anantnag as "null and void," terming the polls ab initio and non-est in the eyes of law for being conducted in blatant violation of official prohibitory orders.
According to an official order issued by the District Magistrate's office accessed news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), the election process for the DBA was initially prohibited on January 2, 2025, and subsequently on September 28, 2026, until the association fulfilled mandatory compliance conditions.
The administration had mandated the submission of the association's Certificate of Registration, constitution, by-laws, a list of executive members from the past ten years, and detailed financial statements. The prohibition orders remained in force as the prerequisites were not met.
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The matter came to the administration's notice through social media platforms, which revealed that the organization operating under the name of the DBA Anantnag went ahead to conduct its elections on October 27, 2026.
The order noted that the polls were held without any intimation to the District Magistrate's office and without obtaining the mandatory post-verification permission. Furthermore, the administration stated that the electoral exercise was conducted in violation of the Societies Registration Act 1860 (as applicable in Jammu and Kashmir) and the Indian Trust Act 1882.
"Now therefore, in view of the above, the elections conducted by the organisation... held on 27-10-2026, are hereby declared NULL AND VOID, ABINITIO and NON-EST in the eyes of law," the order read. (KNS)