- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484862026 NC: 2026:KHC:38238 WP No. 21761 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 21761 OF 2026 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: MR SRIDHAR G SON OF LATE MR. GOVINDARAJ, AGED 44 YEARS, ADVOCATE AND FORMER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER, BANGARPET ADVOCATES ASSOCIATION, RESIDING AT NO.19, SRI GOKULA NILAYA, NANDINI LAYOUT, KOLAR MAIN ROAD, BANGARPET-563 114. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. VASANTH VINCENT FERNANDES., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. BANGARPET ADVOCATES ASSOCIATION (R) NEW COURT COMPLEX, SULIKUNTE ROAD, BANGARPET-563 114 REP. BY ITS SECRETARY 2. THE CHAIRPERSON, THE SENIOR COMMITTEE, BANGARPET ADVOCATES ASSOCIAION (R), CURRENTLY MR. RAMANATH L. N. SON OF NANJUNDARAM SETTY, AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.348, TANK ROAD, BANGARPET-563 114. 3. THE KARNATAKA STATE BAR COUNCIL OLD ELECTION COMMISSION BUILDING, Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484862026 NC: 2026:KHC:38238 WP No. 21761 of 2026 DR. AMBEDKHAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE-560 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VYSHAK MANIKANTA S.,ADVOCATE FOR R1; SRI. T.P. VIVEKANANDA., ADVOCATE FOR R3; R1 & R2 SERVED) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE PETITIONER IN THE VOTERS LIST AND FURTHER TO PERMIT HIM TO CONTEST THE ELECTIONS AND ETC. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Issue a writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents to include the name of the Petitioner in the Voters List and further to permit him to contest the elections; b. Grant such other reliefs as to this Hon’ble Court may seem fit and proper, in furtherance of Justice and equity. 2. The petitioner is an Advocate enrolled with the Karnataka State Bar Council and is practicing at Bangarpet. He became a life member of the Bangarpet Advocates Association (R) on 17.12.2021 - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484862026 NC: 2026:KHC:38238 WP No. 21761 of 2026 and served as a Member of its Executive Committee during the period 2024–2025. The grievance of the petitioner is that his name has not been included in the list of eligible voters for the election to the Association for the year 2026–2027. It is in that background that, the petitioner is before this Court seeking for the aforesaid reliefs. 3. The submission of Sri.Vasanth Vincent Fernandes., learned counsel for the petitioner is that the petitioner being a life member of respondent No.1, his name ought to have been in the name of the provisional voters list. The request made by the petitioner to include his name in the final voters list was not considered and it is in that background that he submits that a mandamus is required to be issued, directing the inclusion of the name of the petitioner in the final voters list and permit him to not only vote at the election but to contest at the election. 4. Notice having an issued, Sri.Vyshak Manikanta.S., learned counsel appearing for respondents No.1 and - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484862026 NC: 2026:KHC:38238 WP No. 21761 of 2026 2, he has filed a memo enclosing certain documents viz., the Resolution dated 21.06.2024 by virtue of which alleging that the petitioner had misused the letterhead of the Association, his membership was terminated. 5. The minutes of the meeting dated 05.07.2024, wherein the earlier decision was ratified, have been placed on record. The said decision was communicated to the Karnataka State Bar Council by letter dated 23.01.2026, along with the postal receipt evidencing its dispatch on the same date. Apart from the above, a copy of the relevant register containing endorsement to the effect that the petitioner's membership has been closed has also been produced. 6. In the aforesaid circumstances, though Sri. Vasanth Vincent Fernandes, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner was unaware of the cancellation of his membership, the fact remains that the petitioner's membership stands cancelled. Unless and until the order of cancellation - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484862026 NC: 2026:KHC:38238 WP No. 21761 of 2026 is set aside in accordance with law, the petitioner's name cannot be included in the membership rolls of respondent No.1 for the purpose of either voting or contesting in the election. 7. In that view of the matter, the relief of mandamus which can be sought for cannot be granted. 8. Reserving liberty to the petitioner to challenge the aforesaid cancellation of membership, the petition stands disposed. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE SR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 66