PRAYAGRAJ, Dec. 21 -- The Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh has informed the Allahabad high court that it has taken a unanimous decision to suspend the licences of advocates listed as history-sheeters or gangsters in police records. The court was also informed that with regards to history-sheeted advocates, the Bar Council had taken suo motu cognizance against 98 advocates, and that disciplinary proceedings against 23 advocates are presently pending before the disciplinary committee. The submission was made before a bench of justice Vinod Diwakar during the hearing of a petition filed by advocate Mohammad Kafeel, who is facing a series of criminal cases, including charges under the UP Gangsters Act, forgery, extortion and criminal conspiracy. Kafeel had moved the HC by filing a plea under Article 227 to challenge an order by the additional sessions judge, Etawah, which dismissed his complaint against a police constable. Though he alleged he was assaulted and punched by the constable near a railway station, on November 26, 2025, the state counsel apprised the bench about his own antecedents. The Court, in an order dated December 18, had sought the statewide data on criminal cases pending against advocates enrolled with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh. During the proceedings, advocate Ashok Kumar Tiwari, counsel for the Bar Council of UP, placed on record a resolution of the council where a unanimous decision was taken to suspend the Licence of Practice of advocates suspected of criminal antecedents. The court further granted the council time to produce a pen drive containing details of all advocates who have been issued Certificates of Practice, for cross-reference. The court took on record the state government's compliance affidavit, along with a district-wise list of cases against lawyers. However, to ensure absolute accuracy, justice Diwakar ordered that all station house officers (SHOs), through their respective senior superintendents of police (SSPs), must file a personal undertaking to certify three specific points: - That the complete list of cases against advocates has been furnished to the high court. - That no material/cases have been concealed. - That no other case is pending against any advocate in their police station except those disclosed. The court directed that a fresh list be furnished "police station-wise"....