**Executive Summary**
This document is a communication from Uday Pratap Singh, Principal Secretary of Justice and Legal Advisors of Uttar Pradesh, to all Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of the Uttar Pradesh government. It concerns the execution of the order dated 04.02.2026 passed by the High Court of Allahabad, Lucknow Bench, in Writ-A No. 5378/2022 (Manish Kumar vs. State of UP and Others). The main action item is to ensure compliance with the court order and provide a report of the actions taken to the Department of Justice so that the High Court can be informed in a timely manner.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Court Order Summary:**
* The court observed a delay in filing the counter affidavit by the respondents in Writ-A No. 5378/2022.
* Despite multiple extensions and dates (26.08.2022, 03.03.2023, 22.03.2023, 26.04.2023, 14.09.2023, 18.11.2023, 24.01.2024, 06.03.2024, 19.09.2024, 23.09.2024, 27.05.2025, 12.09.2025 and subsequently on 10.10.2025) provided since the initial order on 26.08.2022, the counter-affidavit remains unfiled.
* The court noted letters from the learned counsel for the state dated 18.12.2025, 24.01.2026, 14.10.2025 and 14.11.2025, communicating the order for filing the counter affidavit.
* The court granted a final opportunity and listed the matter for February 12, 2026, among the top 10 cases.
* The Additional Chief Secretary, Panchayati Raj, Government of UP, Lucknow, is required to join the court proceedings via video conferencing if the counter affidavit is not filed by the deadline.
* The Additional Chief Secretary is directed to investigate the responsible officer/official for the non-filing of the counter affidavit and to submit a report on this matter to the court.
* The Principal Secretary, Law, is instructed to inform all departments of the State Government to review cases with pending counter-affidavits.
* The Chief Standing Counsel is directed to establish a mechanism to identify cases where counter-affidavits are not filed despite court orders.
* **Action Required by the Government:**
* Ensure compliance with the court's order.
* Provide a report on the actions taken to the Department of Justice.
**Impact Analysis**
**All Departments of the State Government**
* *Impact:* Need to review/scrutinize cases where orders for filing of counter affidavits have not been complied with.
* *Action Required:* Conduct a review of pending cases and take necessary actions to ensure compliance with court orders.
**Principal Secretary, Law**
* *Impact:* Responsible for informing all departments of the State Government about the need to review cases involving the filing of counter affidavits.
* *Action Required:* Communicate the court order to all relevant departments and ensure their compliance.
**Additional Chief Secretary, Panchayati Raj, Government of UP, Lucknow**
* *Impact:* Direct responsibility for the timely filing of the counter affidavit and may be required to appear before the court via video conferencing.
* *Action Required:* Ensure the counter affidavit is filed by the deadline, investigate the delay, and prepare to attend the court hearing if required.
**Chief Standing Counsel**
* *Impact:* Direct responsibility for identifying the case and ensuring the counter affidavits/affidavits are filed in time.
* *Action Required:* Establish a mechanism to find cases listed before the Court and the counter affidavits/affidavits are not filed, even after the directions of the Court.
Key Entities Referenced
High Court, Allahabad, Lucknow Bench: The court that passed the initial order regarding the counter affidavit in the Writ Petition No. 5378/2022.
Writ Petition No. 5378/2022 Manish Kumar v. State of UP: The specific case for which the counter affidavit is delayed, prompting the directive.
Panchayati Raj, Government of UP, Lucknow: The Additional Chief Secretary of this department is directed to appear if the counter affidavit is not filed.
Uttar Pradesh: The state government to which the communication is addressed, requiring compliance with the High Court order.
Department of Law, Uttar Pradesh: The department that is tasked with reviewing the cases and informing the State Government about cases where counter affidavits have not been complied with
सं(cid:6990) या– 2/2026/3/सात-(cid:7008) याय अनु0(cid:7079)को0/2026
(cid:7079)ेषक,
उदय (cid:7079)ताप (cid:7410)सह,
(cid:7079)मुख सिचव, (cid:7008) याय एवं िविध परामश(cid:7278),
उ(cid:7004) तर (cid:7079)दशे शासन ।
सेवा म(cid:7286),
सम(cid:7021) त अपर म(cid:6990)ु य सिचव/
(cid:7079)मुख सिचव/सिचव,
उ(cid:7004) तर (cid:7079)दशे शासन।
अनु(cid:7088)वण (cid:7079)को(cid:7020) ठ, (cid:7008) याय िवभाग लखनऊ : (cid:7408)दनाकं 10 फरवरी, 2026
िवषय:- (cid:7407)रट-ए- सं(cid:6990) या-5378/2022 मनीष कुमार बनाम उ0(cid:7079)0 रा(cid:6996) य व अ(cid:7008) य म(cid:7286) पा(cid:7407)रत आदशे (cid:7408)दनांक
04.02.2026 का अनुपालन कराये जाने के स(cid:7013) ब(cid:7008) ध म(cid:7286) ।
महोदय,
कृपया अवगत कराना ह ै (cid:7408)क (cid:7407)रट-ए- सं(cid:6990) या-5378/2022 मनीष कुमार बनाम उ0(cid:7079)0 रा(cid:6996) य व
अ(cid:7008) य म(cid:7286) मा0 उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय,इलाहाबाद, लखनऊ ख(cid:7003)ड पीठ लखनऊ (cid:7367)ारा (cid:7408)दनांक 04-02-2026 को
पा(cid:7407)रत आदशे के म(cid:6990)ु य काय(cid:6981)कारी अशं िन(cid:7013)न वत् ह (cid:7289) : -
“ From perusal of the order sheet, it transpires that on 26.08.2022, the following order was
passed:-
"Connect and list alongwith Writ Petition No. 25649 (SS) of 2021.
Opposite parties may file counter affidavit in the meantime.
From perusal of the same it transpires that the respondents were directed to file counter
affidavit, but no counter has been filed as yet.
I have noticed that several dates were fixed i.e. 03.03.2023, 22.03.2023, 26.04.2023,
26.04.2023, 14.09.2023, 18.11.2023, 24.01.2024, 06.03.2024, 19.09.2024, 23.09.2024,
27.05.2025, 12.09.2025 and subsequently on 10.10.2025, the following order was passed:-
"As prayed by Mr. P.K. Singh, learned counsel for the State, two weeks and no more time is
granted for filing counter affidavit.
List/put up this matter in the week commencing 03.11.2025 in-terms of earlier order."
This Court while accommodating the State Counsel, given further two weeks and no more
time for filing counter affidavit. After 10.10.2025 as many as five dates have been fixed, but
no counter affidavit has been filed, till date.
Learned counsel for the State has placed the letters dated 18.12.2025, 24.01.2026,
14.10.2025 and 14.11.2025, wherein, the order for filing counter affidavit has been
communicated.
It is a startling fact that even after the order passed by this Court for filing counter affidavit,
three years back and after affording further opportunity of filing the same by fixing more
than 15 dates, no counter affidavit has been filed by the respondent-authorities.
It is also apparent that in the month of October 2025, considering the several occasions
provided for filing the counter affidavit, which was of no avail, this Court passed the order
1- यह शासनादेश इले(cid:6989)(cid:7069)ािनकली जारी (cid:7408)कया गया ह,ै अत: इस पर ह(cid:7021) ता(cid:6979)र क(cid:7409) आव(cid:7019) यकता नही ह ै।
2- इस शासनादेश क(cid:7409) (cid:7079)मािणकता वेब साइट http://shasanadesh.up.gov.in से स(cid:7004) यािपत क(cid:7409) जा सकती ह ै।while granting further two weeks and no more time, but even then, the counter affidavit
has not been filed.
This is very painful situation for any litigant who approaches this Court with the hope that
his or her grievance will be considered and decided promptly, but such sluggishness on the
part of the authorities, does not only hamper the litigant's hope but also creates acute
hindrance, in the functioning of the Courts; therefore, such practice cannot be appreciated.
List/put this matter on February 12, 2026 within the top 10 cases.
As a last opportunity, it is provided that if the counter affidavit is not filed by the date
fixed, the Additional Chief Secretary, Panchayati Raj, Government of UP, Lucknow, shall
join the proceedings of this Court, through video conferencing.
In addition, it is also provided that the Additional Chief Secretary himself shall look into the
matter and shall inquire that who is the erring officer/official for not filing the counter
affidavit, as directed vide order dated 26.08.2022 and a report shall also be placed before
this Court on the said date.
This order shall also be communicated to the Principal Secretary, Law, to inform all the
departments of the State Government to conduct a review/scrutiny of such cases, where,
the orders for filing of counter affidavits, have not been complied with.
The Chief Standing Counsel concerned is also directed to evolve a mechanism so as to find
out the cases, which are listed before the Court and the counter affidavits/affidavits are
not filed, even after the directions of this Court.”
कृपया मा0 उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय, इलाहाबाद, लखनऊ ख(cid:7003) डपीठ लखनऊ (cid:7367)ारा पा(cid:7407)रत उ(cid:6989)त आदशे का
अनुपालन (cid:7408)कये जाने के संबधं म(cid:7286) आव(cid:7019) यक काय(cid:6981)वाही सुिनि(cid:7391)त कराते (cid:7263)ए कृत कायव(cid:6981) ाही क(cid:7409) आ(cid:6990) या (cid:7008) याय
िवभाग को उपल(cid:7011) ध कराने का क(cid:7020) ट कर(cid:7286) ता(cid:7408)क ससमय मा0 उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय को सूिचत (cid:7408)कया जा सके।
भवदीय,
(उदय (cid:7079)ताप (cid:7410)सह )
(cid:7079)मुख सिचव, (cid:7008) याय एवं िविध परामश(cid:7278)।
सं(cid:6990) या– 2/2026/3(1)/सात-(cid:7008) याय अनु0(cid:7079)को0/2026, तद(cid:7408)दनांक।
(cid:7079)ितिलिप िन(cid:7013) निलिखत को सूचनाथ (cid:6981) एवं आव(cid:7019) यक कायव(cid:6981) ाही हते ु (cid:7079)ेिषत:-
1- महािनब(cid:7008) धक, मा0 उ(cid:6994) च (cid:7008) यायालय, इलाहाबाद।
2- (cid:7088)ी शैल(cid:7008)े (cid:7076) कुमार (cid:7410)सह, म(cid:6990)ु य (cid:7021) थायी अिधव(cid:6989) ता, मा0 उ(cid:6994)च (cid:7008) यायालय, इलाहाबाद, लखनऊ
ख(cid:7003) डपीठ लखनऊ को उनके प(cid:7074) सं(cid:6990) या- 2146/िसिवल/2026, (cid:7408)दनांक 06.02.2026 के (cid:7059)म
म(cid:7286) सूचनाथ(cid:6981) (cid:7079)ेिषत।
3 - िनजी सिचव, (cid:7079)मुख सिचव, (cid:7008) याय िवभाग, उ0(cid:7079)0 शासन।
4- गाड (cid:6981) फाइल।
आ(cid:6980)ा स,े
(लोकेश नागर)
िवशषे सिचव, (cid:7008) याय एव अपर िविध परामश(cid:7278)।
1- यह शासनादेश इले(cid:6989)(cid:7069)ािनकली जारी (cid:7408)कया गया ह,ै अत: इस पर ह(cid:7021) ता(cid:6979)र क(cid:7409) आव(cid:7019) यकता नही ह ै।
2- इस शासनादेश क(cid:7409) (cid:7079)मािणकता वेब साइट http://shasanadesh.up.gov.in से स(cid:7004) यािपत क(cid:7409) जा सकती ह ै।