LUCKNOW, Jan. 30 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the deadline for the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council election to February 2 from January 31 following reports of chaos and mismanagement during the voting process in Lucknow on January 27. The third phase of polling at the Lucknow high court was cancelled after allegations surfaced that some ballot papers, despite being sealed, already bore tick marks in favour of a candidate. Voting was halted immediately and the election process in the state capital was scrapped. The apex court allowed the extension to ensure the integrity of the election process after the disruptions. Akhilesh Awasthi, a candidate in the Bar Council election, said: "The election committee needs additional time to re-notify polling dates and organise logistics for the remaining voting." Earlier, Justice Surendra Singh, observer for the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council election (2025-26), and Justice Arvind K Tripathi, the returning officer, had issued a notification cancelling the Lucknow polling....