The Bombay High Court has stayed a trial court order that had halted the expulsion of journalist Gurbir Singh from the Mumbai Press Club (MPC).

A vacation bench of Justice Gautam Ankhad held that the civil court had granted ad-interim reliefs without providing reasons and had effectively allowed the final relief sought by Mr. Singh.

The High Court was hearing an appeal filed by the MPC against the trial court’s May 7 order. That order had stayed Mr. Singh’s expulsion from the club and permitted him to contest the club elections scheduled in July.

Justice Ankhad observed that the trial court’s order did not disclose reasons for the reliefs granted. The trial court had held that principles of natural justice were violated, that Mr. Singh was denied an opportunity of cross-examination, that the expulsion was intended to prevent him from contesting elections, and that he would lose the chance to contest if interim protection was not granted.

The High Court said the trial court neither analysed the material on record nor assigned a basis for these conclusions.

The High Court noted that a show cause notice was issued to Mr. Singh, replies were filed, and a personal hearing was conducted before a three-member inquiry committee. The committee’s report recorded that no further hearing was necessary. The report was accepted by a two-thirds majority of the managing committee.

The High Court held that the trial court could not have simply stated that natural justice was violated without discussing the events recorded in the report.

Justice Ankhad said the trial court’s order went beyond the scope of ad-interim protection. By staying the show cause notice, inquiry report, and managing committee resolution, and by directing that Mr. Singh be permitted to contest elections, the trial court had granted the substantive final relief.

The dispute arose from an event organised by Mr. Singh on January 19, 2026, on the terrace of the MPC. The event was attended by eight accused in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case – Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Gautam Navlakha, Anand Teltumbde, Hany Babu, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale. All eight were out on bail.

A condition imposed by the special court in that case was that the accused would not interact with each other.

The MPC managing committee received a complaint from a member. A three-member inquiry committee found that Mr. Singh’s conduct in organising the event and inviting the accused persons brought disrepute to the club.

On April 26, 2026, the managing committee resolved to expel Singh from contesting elections for six years. Singh challenged this decision before a civil court, which passed the ad-interim order on May 7.

The High Court has listed the matter for final arguments on June 15.