R.K.Kalpana v. The High Powered Election Committee, Phase V-C

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 09.03.2026 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R. SURESH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N. SENTHILKUMAR R.K.Kalpana ..

Petitioner Vs.

1. The High Powered Election Committee Phase V-C, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Chennai - 104.

2. The Secretary Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Chennai - 104.

..

Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus, to direct the first and second respondents to include the petitioner's name in the Final Voters' List for the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Elections 2026 and permit the petitioner to contest and vote in the said election. For the Petitioner :

Mr.J.Ravindran Senior Counsel assisted by Mr.N.Bharathi For the Respondents :

Mr.C.K.Chandrasekar Standing Counsel for R2

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by R.SURESH KUMAR, J.) Prayer sought herein is for a writ of mandamus, to direct the first and second respondents to include the petitioner's name in the final voters' list for the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

Elections, 2026 and permit the petitioner to contest and vote in the said election.

2. Heard Mr.J.Ravindran, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of Mr.N.Bharathi, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.C.K.Chandrasekar, learned Standing Counsel appearing for respondent 2.

3. The petitioner was the counsel for the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, therefore, she suspended her practice by making a request on 11.02.2026. Following the same, the practice of the writ petitioner might have been suspended by the respondent Bar Council, but, subsequently, by the order dated 25.02.2026, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board accepted the resignation of the writ petitioner and relieved her from duty as Law Consultant of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board on 28.02.2026 afternoon.

4. Based on such relievement, the writ petitioner once again made a request on 27.02.2026 to the respondent Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to resume her practice, as she has been relieved as Law Consultant from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

5. The said request, though had been made on 27.02.2026, according to the writ petitioner, is still pending with the respondent Bar Council and had not passed any orders.

6. The petitioner has already filed nomination to contest in the forthcoming Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Bar Council Election also. Only in that context, she rushed to the Court and filed the present writ petition with the aforesaid prayer.

7. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the second respondent would submit that, insofar as the suspension of practice and resumption of the same is concerned, as per the procedure which is in vogue, such requests made would be then and there considered by the Bar Council, however, the prayer since made in the present writ petition is to get her name included in the voters' list of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Elections, 2026, is concerned, it is to be decided by the first respondent, who has been nominated by the orders passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Anyhow, the request made by the writ petitioner dated 27.02.2026 would immediately be taken up and decided by the respondent Bar Council by today itself in view of the great urgency raised by the petitioner, he contended.

8. Recording the said submissions made by the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the second respondent, this Court is inclined to dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the respondent Bar Council to consider the request made by the petitioner dated 27.02.2026 and pass orders thereon, on merits and in accordance with law, by today itself, that is by 09.03.2026.

9. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. No costs. Consequently, W.M.P.Nos.10365 and 10368 of 2026 are closed. (R.S.K., J.) (N.S., J.) 09.03.2026 Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order Internet:Yes/No Index:Yes/No Note: Issue order copy by 02:00 pm on 09.03.2026. (drm)

To:

1. The High Powered Election Committee Phase V-C, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Chennai - 104.

2. The Secretary Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Chennai - 104.

R. SURESH KUMAR, J.

AND N. SENTHILKUMAR, J.

(drm) 09.03.2026