- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30719 WP No. 18384 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 18384 OF 2026 (LB-RES) BETWEEN: M/S BHARATHI EDUCATION SOCIETY TRUST BHARATHI NAGAR (KM DODDI) MANDYA DISTRICT-571422 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. …PETITIONER (BY SRI.K.B. MOUNESH., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REP BY THE SECRETARY RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYAT RAJ DEPT. KALIDASA MARGA, GANDHI NAGAR BENGALURU 560 009. 2. PANCHAYAT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER GRAMA PANCHAYAT, BHARATHINAGARA MADDUR TALUK MANDYA DISTRICT-571422. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.BOPPANNA BELLIAPPA., AGA FOR R1) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUION OF INDIA PRAYING TO Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30719 WP No. 18384 of 2026 QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 02.06.2026 VIDE NO. BHARATHI NAGAR GRAMA PANCHAYAT//2026-27 ISSUED BY THE R-2 PRODUCED AS ANNX-E; DIRECTIONS IN THE MANDAMUS TO THE R-2 TO CONSIDER THE REPLY OF THE PETITIONER SOCIETY DATED 10.06.2026 PRODUCED AS ANNX-F AND FURTHER ACT UPON THE SAME. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD ORAL ORDER The petitioner is a Society registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 [for short, ‘the Act’] and it has established multiple educational institutions in Maddur Taluk, Mandya District. The petitioner has also commenced a Law Degree Course. The petitioner's grievance is with the second respondent’s Communication dated 02.06.2026 [Annexure-E]. The second respondent, vide this impugned Communication, has called upon the petitioner to remove buntings which are put up with the image of a person lest action be taken to remove those buntings. This Communication also reads that - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30719 WP No. 18384 of 2026 the petitioner is permitted to put up such buntings but not with the image of a person, and that though the petitioner has been served with notice for removal of the buntings, the petitioner has failed to remove such buntings. 2. Sri K. B. Monesh Kumar, the learned counsel for the petitioner, is heard in the light of the petitioner's possible response to such notice. The petitioner has referred to the permission accorded by the Bar Council of India for commencement of a law degree course from the academic year 2026-27 asserting that the buntings put up are in accordance with the permission covered under an agreement between the petitioner and second respondent dated 29.08.2023 and that if the petitioner is informed about the parts of the buntings which are offensive, those would be removed. 3. The photographs of the buntings are produced in the Annexure -C series, and it is seen - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30719 WP No. 18384 of 2026 that these buntings have the image of a person in what could be the attire prescribed for Advocates. The Bar Council of India Rules would be against any advertisement of an individual, and when this is put to Sri K.B. Monesh Kumar, the learned counsel submits that this Court may grant some time to the petitioner to replace the buntings with the image of a person [even a student] so that the petitioner's right is not jeopardized when the petitioner is willing to ensure that there is no possible violation of the relevant Rules. 4. Sri Bopanna Belliappa, the learned Additional Government Advocate, who is called upon to accept notice for the first respondent, is heard in the light of the circumstances. The second respondent must be called upon to defer the proposed action for a reasonable time within which the petitioner will have to replace all images of any person from its buntings and ensure that the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30719 WP No. 18384 of 2026 buntings relate to the Law Degree Course and the details of the Institution without emphasis on person/ persons. If the petitioner replaces the image of a person in the attire which is prescribed for an Advocate in the buntings in due deference of the Bar Council of India Rules against advertisement for individuals and ensures that the buntings are about the Law Degree Course/details of the Institution, the second respondent cannot be precipitous in bringing about a termination of the petitioner's right. Therefore, this Court must intervene on terms. Hence, the following: ORDER The petition stands disposed of on the following terms. [a] The second respondent is directed to defer action under the impugned Communication dated 02.06.2026 for a period eight [8] weeks from today. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30719 WP No. 18384 of 2026 [b] The petitioner is reserved with liberty to replace the buntings with the buntings that have details of the Law Degree Course and Institution and file an affidavit in this regard with the second respondent. [c] The second respondent, who shall defer action as aforesaid for the next eight [8] weeks, shall consider the issue once again in the light of such replacement without hindering the Bar Council’s permission/ recognition in favour of the petitioner’s institution or the agreement concluded with the petitioner. Sd/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE SA Ct:sr