- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:11251 WP No. 2607 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 2607 OF 2025 (CS-EL/M) BETWEEN: 1. SHIVARAMEGOWDA S/O. RAMANNA AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS SHARE NO.M1/318 2. RAJESH B S/O UMMATTHURU AGED ABOUT 45, SHARE NO.07/158 3. SHRIDHARA S/O CHIKKANNA C AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS SHARE NO.09/292 ALL ARE MEMBERS OF MYSURU CHAMARAJANAGARA AND MANDYA DISTRICT K.S.R.T.C EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, MYSURU. MYSURU DISTRICT-570001 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SANDESH T B.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, M.S BUILDING, DR. B.R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001. REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY. 2. THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION AUTHORITY 3RD FLOOR, TTMC A BLOCK, Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:11251 WP No. 2607 of 2025 K.H.ROAD, SHANTINAGAR, BANGALORE-560027 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY 3. THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES MYSURU DISTRICT-570001 4. THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES MYSURU SUB-DIVISION MYSURU TALUK, MYSURU DISTRICT-570001 5. THE MYSURU CHAMARAJANAGARA AND MANDYA DISTRICT K.S.R.T.C EMPLOYEES CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, MYSURU. MYSURU DISTRICT-570001, REPRESENTED BY CEO (SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE KARNATAKA CO- OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT-1959) 6. RETURNING OFFICER KRISHNARAJAPETE TALUK PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL BANK LTD, KRISHNARAJAPETE, KRISHNARAJAPETE TALUK, MYSURU DISTRICT-577133, (SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE KARNATAKA CO- OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT-1959) …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. YOGESH D. NAIK., AGA FOR R1, R3, R4 & R6; SRI. T.L. KIRAN KUMAR., ADVOCATE FOR R2; SRI. KUMARA K.G., ADVOCATE FOR R5) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE R2 TO R6 INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE PETITIONER IN THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS LIST AND PERMIT THE PETITIONER CONTEST AND VOTES IN THE ELECTIONS TO THE R5 WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON 09/02/2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-A. - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:11251 WP No. 2607 of 2025 THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioners are before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Issue a writ of mandamus directing the R2 to R6 to include the name of the petitioner in the eligible voters list and permit the petitioner Contest and Votes in the elections to the respondent No.5 which is scheduled to be held on 09.02.2025 in the interest of justice and equity vide Annexure-A b. Such other direction or order writ as may deem fit to this Hon’ble Court may kindly be issued. 2. This Court by way of various interim orders had permitted the petitioners who were declared to be ineligible voters to cast their vote in the elections of the Society, subject to the result of the writ petition and that the votes cast by the petitioners shall be kept in separate ballot boxes. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:11251 WP No. 2607 of 2025 3. A Coordinate Bench of this Court in the case of H.S.Raju vs. State of Karnataka & others1 has after considering the matter in detail come to a categorical conclusion that any irregularity in the conduct of election a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India would not be the proper remedy any dispute as regards the eligibility or ineligibility and the deficiencies in finalization of final electoral list, could only be considered in a dispute raised as regard the election under Section 70 (2) of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959 after the announcement of the results by counting even the votes cast by the petitioners. 4. The said judgment not having been challenged and having attained finality, the fact being more or less similar would equally apply to the present matter. 1 W.P.No.8502/2022 dated 7.6.2022 - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:11251 WP No. 2607 of 2025 5. In that view of the matter, I pass the following: ORDER i) The Writ Petition is disposed of. ii) The Returning Officer in each of the above matters is directed to announce the result within seven days of the receipt of a copy of this order by taking into account the votes cast by the petitioners in each of the above matters. iii) In the event of any proceeding being filed in relation to the results of the election under Section 70 (2) of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959, all the contentions raised herein and any that may be raised are left open for consideration in accordance with the applicable law, this court has not expressed any opinion on those issues. iv) The votes cast by the respective petitioners which had been directed to be kept in separate - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC:11251 WP No. 2607 of 2025 box shall continue to be retained in a separate box until the disposal of the dispute if any raised within the time frame prescribed. SD/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE PRS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 12