- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2394 WP No. 101071 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO.101071 OF 2026 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: SMT. JAYANTI W/O. KRISHNARAO MAJUMADAR, AGE. 54 YEARS, OCC. LEGAL PRACTITIONER, R/O. KALEWADA, HULYALAKAR GALLI, JAMKHANDI, TQ. JAMKHANDI, DIST. BAGALKOT-587301. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. GIRISH A.YADWAD, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE KARNATAKA STATE BAR COUNCIL, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN, KGID BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE RETURNING OFFICER, THE KARNATAKA STATE BAR COUNCIL, KGID BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. 3. THE BAR ASSOCIATION JAMKHANDI, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, TQ. JAMKHANDI, DIST. BAGALKOT-587301. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. ARCHANA A.MAGADUM, ADVOCATE FOR R1) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.1 KSBC TO CHANGE THE PLACE OF VOTING OF THE PETITIONER FROM BAGALKOT TO JAMKHANDI FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSUING GENERAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD TO THE KSBC ON 11.03.2026 AS REQUESTED FOR BY THE PETITIONER IN THE REPRESENTATIONS DATED 22.01.2026, 29.01.2026 AND 02.02.2026 VIDE ANNEXURE-E, F AND G, RESPECTIVELY, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. B. PASS SUCH ORDER OR ORDERS WHICH THIS HON’BLE COURT DEEMS FIT AND NECESSARY UNDER FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. YASHAVANT NARAYANKAR Digitally signed by YASHAVANT NARAYANKAR Date: 2026.02.19 12:32:54 +0000 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2394 WP No. 101071 of 2026 THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayers: “a) Issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent No.1 KSBC to change the place of voting of the petitioner from Bagalkot to Jamkhandi for the purpose of ensuing general elections to be held to the KSBC on 11.03.2026 as requested for by the petitioner in the representations dated 22.01.2026, 29.01.2026 and 02.02.2026 vide Annexure-E, F and G, respectively, in the interest of justice and equity. b) Pass such order or orders which this Hon’ble Court deems fit and necessary under facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity.” 2. The petitioner is a practicing Advocate at Jamkhandi. The petitioner is seeking a direction to the respondent No.1/Karnataka State Bar Council to change the place of voting of the petitioner from Bagalakot to Jamakhandi for the purpose of ensuing general elections to be held to the respondent No.1/Bar Council. In this regard, the petitioner had addressed several E-mails to the Bar Council 22.01.2026, 29.01.2026 and 02.02.2026 along with the representation - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2394 WP No. 101071 of 2026 requesting for change of place of voting from Bagalakot to Jamkhandi. 3. It is the grievance of the petitioner that the respondents have failed to consider the representation submitted by the petitioner. It is submitted that if the petitioner now casts her vote at Bagalakot in the ensuing elections to the Bar Association at Jamkhandi, there will be an objection for the petitioner to vote for the same. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent/Bar Council does not dispute the fact that the petitioner is a practicing Advocate at Jamkhandi and E-mails sent to the Bar Council. It is submitted that though the e-mail is sent earlier, by oversight, they could not consider the same. Now at this stage, in the light of the guidelines issued by the Hon'ble Apex Court, the voters’ list cannot be changed. The petitions are not maintainable and aggrieved party has to go before the High Power Election Committee. 5. Having heard the learned counsels on either side, perused the material on record. The undisputed fact is that the petitioner is a practicing Advocate at Jamkhandi and her - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2394 WP No. 101071 of 2026 name is shown in the voters’ list of Bagalakot. Considering the difficulties as expressed by the learned counsel appearing for the respondent/Bar Council, at this point of time, this Court cannot issue any direction to the respondents to change the place of voting from Bagalakot to Jamkhandi. Considering the submission of the counsel for the petitioner that later the petitioner will not be permitted to vote at Jamkhandi, this Court is passing the following: ORDER i) The writ petition is disposed of with an observation that the petitioner’s voting at Bagalakot for Bar Council election will not preclude the petitioner from voting at Jamkhandi in the ensuing elections to the Bar Association. ii) All pending I.A.s in this petition shall stand closed. Sd/- JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI JTR CT: UMD List No.: 1 Sl No.: 20