Page No.# 1/3 GAHC010040322026 undefined THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/1158/2026 SMT BANASHREE GOGOI AND 9 ORS. RESIDENT OF 1B, DISHA ENCLAVE, OPP. JANAMBHUMI PRESS LTD. MANIK NAGAR, GUWAHATI 781005 HAVING GHCBA MEMBERSHIP NO. 01602/2002 ENROLMENT NO 220/2001. 2: DR NIKITA BAROOAH RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 2 S.N. GOHAIN LANE S.K. BHUYAN ROAD DIGHALIPUKHURI EAST GUWAHATI HAVING GHCBA MEMBERSHIP NO. 02141 ENROLMENT NO 1024/ 1999-2000 3: SMT ANITA VERMA RESIDENT OF 23 PRATIKSHA KHARGULI RIVERSIDE GUWAHATI 781001 HAVING GHCBA MEMBERSHIP NO. 1716 ENROIMENT NO 646/2002 4: SMT JAGRITI RAJKUMARI RESIDENT OF MAYANAGAR UNDER NOONMATI POLICE STATION HAVING GHCBA MEMBERSHIP NO. 01681 ENROLMENT NO. 500/2000 5: SMT KAVITA KALITA CHOWDHURY RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 55 KHARGULI HILLS NEAR NAVAGRAHA TEMPLE GUWAHATI-781004 HAVING GHCBA MEMBERSHIP NO. 01248/1999 ENROLMENT NO 234/1998 6: SMT BARNITA CHOUDHURY RESIDENT OF LAMB ROAD AMBARI UNDER LATASIL POLICE STATION HAVING GHCBA MEMBERSHIP NO. ENROLMENT NO. 708/2010 7: SMT SUMEE MEDHI RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO.2 JONALI PATH ZOO ROAD HAVING GHCBA MEMBERSHIP NO. ENROLMENT NO. 947/2009 8: SMT GARGI HAZARIKA Page No.# 2/3 RESIDENT OF R.K. CHOUDHURY ROAD BHARALUMUKH GUWAHATI 781009 HAVING GHCBA MEMBERSHIP NO. 05290 ENROLMENT NO. 1174/ 2008-2009 9: MS GARGI KASHYAP RESIDENT OF HOUSE NO. 2 NOONMATI GUWAHATI-781020 HAVING GHCBA MEMBERSHIP NO. 03543 ENROLMENT NO. 78/2013 10: SMT ARFIZA NASRINA HUSSAIN RESIDENT OF BAPAPUNG SETTLEMENT AREA UNDER DIGBOI POLICE STATION TINSUKIA- 786171 ASSAM HAVING GHCBA MEMBERSHIP NO. 4769/2023 ENROLMENT NO. 947/201 VERSUS GAUHATI HIGH COURT BAR ASSOCIATION ANR ANR GUWAHATI, THROUGH ITS PRESIDENT/SECRETARY. 2:RETURNING OFFICER/ELECTION COMMITTEE GAUHATI HIGH COURT BAR ASSOCIATION Advocate for the Petitioner : S KALITA, MS B CHOUDHURY Advocate for the Respondent : SC, BAR COUNCIL, BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR MEDHI ORDER 06.03.2026 Heard Ms. S. Kalita, learned counsel appearing online for the petitioner. This petition has been filed with the following prayer: “ In view of the facts and circumstances stated hereinabove, it is most respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to: a). Issue an appropriate writ, order, or direction, including a writ in the nature of Mandamus, directing the Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) to provide 30% reservation for women advocates in the Executive Committee of the Association, to be Page No.# 3/3 implemented through a combination of permanent and rotational reservation, in terms of Article 9(iii) of the Constitution of the GHCBA, for the ensuing election term 2026- 2027; b). Direct the Respondent Association to earmark seven (7) posts for women candidates in the Executive Committee for the said ensuing election, including the post of Secretary General, one post of Vice President, one post of Secretary, and four posts in the sub-categories of the Executive Committee, distributed as 2:1:1 according to years of membership, or in such manner as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper; c). Issue appropriate directions mandating the consequential amendment of the Constitution/Rules of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association so as to institutionalize such assured reservation for women advocates (illustrated in the table above) in the Executive Committee, ensuring adequate, effective, and meaningful representation of women in the governance of the Association; d) Declare that such reservation and amendments shall operate prospectively, without disturbing any concluded or ongoing elections, and shall apply to the ensuing election 2026-2027 and subsequent election cycles; e) Pass such other or further order(s) as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice, equity, and constitutional fairness. And for this act of kindness, the Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.” This Court however is apprised of an order passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 05.01.2026 in WP(C)/1621/2025 (Pankaj Sinha Vs Bar Council of India & Ors.). In the said order, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in categorical terms had directed the High Courts not to entertain fresh petition in regard to matters concerning adequate representation of Woman lawyers in the Bar Council or Bar Association. In view of the above, this writ petition is dismissed. JUDGE Comparing Assistant