Writ Petitions (GM-RES/GM-KSR) Nos. 2787, 2791, 2904 and 3071 of 2025 (common order, R. Devdas, J., dated 01-02-2025) — Advocates Association, Bengaluru elections: reservation for SC/ST/Backward Class advocates. Petitioner bodies and individuals representing SC/ST, Backward Class and minority advocates sought directions to provide overall 50% reservation (including within the women's reservation) in the office-bearer posts and Governing Body/Council of the Advocates Association, Bengaluru, on rotation basis; WP No. 2904/2025 additionally prayed to quash the modified calendar of events dated 30.01.2025 (Annexure-D). Counsel relied on the Supreme Court's directions in Fozia Rahman v. Bar Council of Delhi (SLP(C) No. 24485/2024, dt. 19.12.2024), Supreme Court Bar Association v. B.D. Kaushik (Misc. Application No. 13992/2023, dt. 02.05.2024) and the High Court and District Court Bar Associations (NCT of Delhi) matter, on BCCI v. Cricket Association of Bihar (2015) 3 SCC 251 (amenability of public-function bodies to writ jurisdiction under Article 226), and on K.N. Subbareddy v. Advocates Association (ILR 2009 Kar 1697). Background: this Court had dismissed W.P.No.35836/2024 c/w W.P.No.123/2025 on 08.01.2025 (no bye-law provision for reservation; Article 142 powers unavailable to the High Court); the Supreme Court thereafter passed orders dated 24.01.2025 and 28.01.2025 — holding the Association's regulations silent on reservation, reserving the Treasurer's post exclusively for women, extending nomination dates, considering earmarking at least 30% elected Governing Council seats for women, and deeming created one additional post of Vice President — all expressly under Article 142; the election process under the calendar of events dated 08.01.2025 was suspended (Annexure-E dated 24.01.2025) and the Association communicated a majority Executive Committee resolution (Annexure-F dated 27.01.2025) creating an additional Treasurer post for a woman candidate and enhancing Governing Council posts. HELD: (i) the Supreme Court's directions in the aforesaid matters were issued under Article 142 of the Constitution of India, a power not exercisable by this Court; (ii) this Court therefore cannot issue directions enabling reservation of office-bearer/Governing Council posts for SC/ST/Backward Class members — such directions, if at all, can issue only from the Hon'ble Apex Court under Article 142; (iii) the Court refrains from commenting on the Association's resolution dated 27.01.2025, leaving petitioners free to approach the Supreme Court for directions as prayed. Disposition: writ petitions disposed of; pending interlocutory applications stand disposed of. No reservation directions issued by the High Court; no monetary quantum involved.
