- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010570902026 NC: 2026:KHC:44145 WP No. 25638 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 25638 OF 2026 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SMT. PARVATHI BAI, W/O SRI. LAKSHMIKANTH NAIK, C/O LAKSHMI NILAYA, AGED 53 YEARS, BEHIND KOLHAPURADAMMA TEMPLE, DONIKANA, GANDHINAGAR, CHIKKAMAGALURU -577 101 … PETITIONER (BY SMT. SANDHYA U. PRABHU., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. CHIKKAMAGALURU BAR ASSOCIATION (R), REPRESENTED BY THE SENIOR COMMITTEE BY PRESIDENT COURT COMPLEX, CHIKKAMAGALURU -577 101 2. THE SENIOR COMMITTEE, (INCHARGE COMMITTEE) REPRESENTED BY PRESIDENT CHIKKAMAGALURU BAR ASSOCIATION, CHIKKAMAGALURU -577 101. … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. A MADHUSUDHANA RAO., ADVOCATE, V/O DATED 14.08.2026) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO i) QUASH THE ELECTION NOTIFICATION DATED 10/08/2026 ISSUED BY 2ND RESPONDENT AS PER ANNEXURE-A AND ETC. Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010570902026 NC: 2026:KHC:44145 WP No. 25638 of 2026 THIS 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: i) Issue a Writ of Certiorari quashing the election notification dated 10/08/2026 issued by 2nd respondent as per Annexure-A. ii) Issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent to reserve the post of treasurer as per the orders of the Hon'ble supreme court of India in SLP (C) 1404/2025 produced at Annexure-D; iii) Grant any other relief as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case including awarding costs, in the interest of justice and equity. 2. The petitioner claims to be a woman lawyer practicing in Chikkamagaluru. 3. The first grievance of the petitioner relates to the calendar of events issued by respondent No.2 for the election. At Sl.No.18 of the calendar, two posts of Treasurer, namely, Treasurer-I and Treasurer-II, were shown. Treasurer-I was kept open to the General category, while Treasurer-II was reserved for women Advocates. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010570902026 NC: 2026:KHC:44145 WP No. 25638 of 2026 4. The petitioner also contended that there was no reservation for women in the Management Committee of the Bar Association. 5. These grievances have to be considered in the light of the directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Deeksha Amrutesh v. State of Karnataka, (2026 SCC OnLine SC 666). The directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court are required to be followed by the Advocates' Associations across the country. The present election, therefore, has to be conducted in conformity with the said directions. 6. In that background, Sri. Madhusudhana Rao, learned counsel, was directed to accept notice on behalf of respondent No.2, obtain instructions and make his submissions with regard to the reservation for women both in the post of Treasurer and in the Management Committee. 7. Today, Sri. Madhusudhana Rao, learned counsel, has filed a memo along with the resolution dated 17.08.2026 passed by respondent No.2 and the communication issued by respondent No.2 to the Election Officer on the same date. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010570902026 NC: 2026:KHC:44145 WP No. 25638 of 2026 8. Learned counsel submits that, pursuant to the resolution, there will now be only one post of Treasurer and the said post will be reserved for a woman candidate. The election to the other post of Treasurer, which had earlier been shown as a General category post, will not be held. 9. Learned counsel further submits that 30% of the seats in the Executive Committee are reserved for women candidates. 10. He also submits that the last date for filing nominations for Treasurer-II and the reserved seats in the Executive Committee has been extended from 17.08.2026 to 18.08.2026. The purpose of the extension is to give eligible women candidates an opportunity to submit their nominations and participate in the election. It is submitted that the extension has been limited to one day so that the election schedule is not otherwise disturbed. 11. The submissions made by learned counsel are reasonable. The resolution dated 17.08.2026 and the consequential communication issued to the Election Officer address the grievances raised by the petitioner and bring the election process in - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010570902026 NC: 2026:KHC:44145 WP No. 25638 of 2026 conformity with the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. 12. The first grievance regarding the two posts of Treasurer has been addressed by providing for one post of Treasurer reserved for a woman candidate and not proceeding with the election to the other post which had earlier been shown as a General category post. 13. The second grievance regarding reservation in the Management Committee has also been addressed by providing 30% reservation for women candidates. 14. The extension of the time for filing nominations up to 18.08.2026 gives eligible women candidates an opportunity to participate in the election under the revised arrangement. 15. In view of the above, no further consideration is required in this petition. The resolution dated 17.08.2026 and the communication issued to the Election Officer are taken on record. 16. It is clarified that respondent No.2 and the Election Officer shall conduct the election in accordance with the revised arrangement and in conformity with the directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010570902026 NC: 2026:KHC:44145 WP No. 25638 of 2026 Deeksha Amrutesh v. State of Karnataka, (2026 SCC OnLine SC 666). 17. It is further clarified that the earlier calendar of events, insofar as it showed two posts of Joint Secretary and two posts of Treasurer, shall stand modified to the extent indicated in the resolution dated 17.08.2026. 18. The persons who have already filed their nominations for Joint Secretary-II and Treasurer-II pursuant to the earlier calendar of events shall also be permitted to file their nominations for any other post for which they are otherwise eligible, up to the end of the day on 18.08.2026. 19. The Election Officer shall take the necessary consequential steps and shall give effect to the above arrangement while conducting the election. 20. The petition is accordingly disposed in the above terms. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE KTY/List No.: 3 Sl No.: 18