Allahabad HC Clarifies Litigants Can't Be Charged Over ₹125 for Photo ID; Bar Must Exclude Welfare Charge

The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has ruled that litigants cannot be charged more than ₹125 for photo identification on affidavits, as per an Office Memorandum dated November 22, 2024.

The Court found that both the Allahabad and the Oudh Bar Association (Lucknow) were improperly bundling this with a ₹475 “Advocate Welfare Fund” in single receipts.

The Court directed both associations to issue revised receipts within 15 days, explicitly charging only ₹125 and warned against compulsory welfare contributions and clarifying that only the actual cost of affixing a photo and ID number may be recovered.

The Registry was also permitted to highlight affidavit defects under the proper rules.