Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
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NC: 2025:KHC:5168 WP No. 35160 of 2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 35160 OF 2024 (CS-EL/M) BETWEEN:
1. MR CHANDRASHEKAR S P S/O PUTTE GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 80 YEARS R/O SIGDALU, ADDADA POST KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST, PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-001000108
2. MR. DEVAPPA GOWDA S P S/O PUTTEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 70 YEARS R/O SIGDALU, ADDADA POST KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-00001000275
3. MR. KRISHNAPPA K T S/O THIMMANNA, AGED ABOUT 79 YEARS R/O HALGARU, ADDADA POST KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-00001000289
4. MR. RAMAKRISHNA H A S/O ANNAPPA ACHARY AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS
Digitally signed by MAHALAKSHMI B M Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
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R/O HALGARU, ADDADA POST KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO - 00001001175
5. SMT. SHESHAMMA W/O BASAPPA H A AGED ABOUT 74 YEARS R/O HECHE ADDAPA POST KOPPA TALUK CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE 577126 SHARE NO 00001001564
6. MR. NARASIMHA MURTHY K R S/O RAMAYYA AGED ABOUT 79 YEARS R/O KUNCHURU, ADDADA POST KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-00001001133
7. MR. SRIDHAR KR S/O RAMAYYA AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS R/O KUNCHURU, ADDADA POST KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST 577126 SHARE NO-00001001134
8. MR RAMESH K P S/O PUTTEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS R/O GUNAVANTHE KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126
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SHARE NO-00001000288
9. MR. MOHAN K P S/O PUTTAIAH GOWDA K S AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS R/O GUNAVANTHE, KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-00001000285
10. MR. CHINNAYYA K. G S/O GOVINDE GOWDA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS R/O GUNAVANTHE, KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-00001000312
11. MR. K V MANJUNATH S/O VEDEGOWDA AGE 66 R/O GUNAVANTE KOPPA TALU, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST 577126 SHARE NO-00001002092
12. MR. VEERENDRA K. S S/O SUBENYA AGED 45 YEARS R/O GUNAVANTHE KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-00001000265
13. MR SHASHI KUMAR H S/O HANUMANTH RAO B V
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AGED 75 YEARS R/O KOPPA, KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-00001000146
14. SMT. LEELAVATHI W/O NAGENDRA AGED 70 YEARS R/O SUNKURUDI, KACHGAL POST CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ SHARE NO 00001000358
15. MR.
NAGARAJ N.K S/O KRISHANPPAGOWDA AGED 55 YEARS R/O NILUGULIKACHGAL POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ SHARE NO 00001000374
16. MR. DINESH K.C S/O CHENNAPPAGOWDA AGED 60 YEARS R/O KALMAKKI NARVE POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPA TIQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001000901
17. SMT. ANNAPOOMA W/O DINESH K.C AGED 55 YEARS R/O KALMAKKINARVE POST PIN CODE 577126
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KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO 00001000923
18. MR. SUNDRENDRA K.N S/O NARAYAN NAYAK AGED 60 YEARS R/O SOMLAPURA, ANDAGARU POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001001353
19. SMT. SHUBASHINI W/O SUNDRESH AGED 70 YEARS R/O MARITHOTLUNARVE POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO 00001001603
20. MR. RAMANNA O.D., S/O DUGGAPPA GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS, R/O ONITHOTA, MARITHOTLU, ANADAGARU POST, PIN CODE 577 126, KOPPA TQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST, SHARE NO.00001001844
21. MR. VIJENDRA S/O GUNDAPPA AGED 38 YEARS R/O GABBANE SOMLAPURA, KACHGAL POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001002130
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22. MR. RAMU K S/O KALINGAYYA AGED 72 YEARS R/O KACHGALL, SOMLAPURA, KACHGALI POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001001623
23. MR. PRAPULA T.G S/O GOVINDAGOWDA AGED 55 YEARS R/O TANODI, KACHGAL POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO 00001000916
24. MR. VENKATESH U.M S/O MRIYAPPAGOWDA AGED 48 YEARS R/O UPPINAGADDEMARITOTLU PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO 00001001222
25. MR. DARSHAN S.S S/O SUBRAMANYA S.G AGED 35 YEARS R/O SUKURUDI, SOMLAPURA, KACHIGAL POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001001558
26. MR.MAHESHCHANDRA T. L S/O LOPPAPAGOWDA AGED 40 YEARS
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R/O KACHIGAL, SOMLAPURA, KACHIGAL POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ. CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO 00001002048
27. MR. GOVINDEGOWDA T.T S/O THAMMEGOWDA AGED 75 YEARS R/O THANODI, KACHIGAL POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001000849
28. SMT.
SHARADAMMA W/O KRISHNAPPAGOWDA AGED 70 YEARS R/O THANODIKACHGAL POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001001217
29. MR. KESHAVAGOWDA T T S/O THAMMEGOWDA AGED 73 YEARS R/O THANODI, KACHAGAL POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ SHARE NO 00001001207
30. MR. SUMANTHA M. S S/O SUNDHARSHA AGED 35 YEARS R/O MARITHOTLUNARVE POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ SHARE NO 00001001615
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31. MR.MANJUNATH K.N VO NEMEGOWDA AGED 58 YEARS R/O KUSU GOLLI GUNAVANTHE POST PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001000747
32. MR. THOMAS DSOUZA S/O ROM D SOUZA AGED 70 YEARS R/O GUNAVATHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPA TQ. CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001000937
33. SMT. BHAVANI K K W/O VENKATESH G.T AGED 70 YEARS R/O GUNAVATHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001001445
34. SMT. RAJAMMA W/O CHINAPPAGOWDA M.H AGED 85 YEARS R/O GUNAVATHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001001475
35. MR. HERY D SLIVA S/O JOSEPH D SLIVA AGED 49 YEARS
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R/O GUNAVATHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001001601
36. MR. FARNCIES MASCARENCE S/O THOMAS MASACARENCE AGED 57 YEAR R/O GUNAVATHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001002074
37. SMT. ASMATH JAHAN W/O KADHAR BHASHA SAHEB AGED 56 YEARS R/O KOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO001002091
38. MR. DEVENDRAGOWDA H.S S/O SIDAPPAGOWDA AGED 80 YEARS R/O GUNAVANTHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001000279
38. MR. DEVENDRAGOWDA H.S S/O SIDAPPAGOWDA AGED 80 YEARS R/O GUNAVANTHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST
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SHARE NO00001000279
39. MR. SATHISH K.M S/O MANJAPPA GOWDA AGED 72 YEARS R/O GUNAVANTHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001000391
40. MR. ABHILASH G.T., S/O PARAMESHWARA J.D AGED 45 YEARS R/O GUNAVATHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001000399
41. MR.
GIRISH U D S/O DUGGAPPAGOWDA AGED 49 YEARS R/O GUNAVENTHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001000778
42. MR. KALASAPPA H V S/O VENKATARAMAGOWDA AGED 73 YEARS R/O GUNAVANTHEKOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPATQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001000819
43. MR. BAPTIS DSILVA S/O LARENC D SILVA
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AGED 70 YEARS R/O GUNAVATHE KOPPA PIN CODE 577126 KOPPA TQ, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST SHARE NO00001000848. 44. ANANTHA MURTHY K.R S/O RAMAKRISHNA.K AGED ABOUT 70 YEARS BERKODIGE(P) KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO 000100180
45. DARSHAN KUMAR S/O KRISHNAMURTHY AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS R/O BERKODIGE(P) KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-0001000316
46. HARINAKSHI W/O SHESHAPA BT AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS R/O BERKODIGE(P) KOPPA TALOK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-0001000371
47. KRISHNAPPA NAYAKA Y.K S/O KUPPA NAYAKA AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS
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R/O BINTRAVALLI BERKODIGE(P) KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-0001000925
48. GRIGORI NARONHNA S/O A NARONHNA AGED ABOUT 69 YEARS R/O NUGGI BERKODIGE(P) KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-0001000039
49. PASKAL DIAS S/O APPU DIAS AGED ABOUT 75 YEARS R/O BINTRAVALLI BERKODIGE(P) KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-00010001912
50. JOSEPH PHONIC DIAS S/O PASKAL DIAS AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS R/O BINTRAVALLI BERKODIGE(P) KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST. PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-0001000151
51. K.V SUDHAKARA S/O VASUDEVA BHAT AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS
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R/O BINTRAVALLI BERKODIGE(P) KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-00010001594
52. B.U. UMESH S/O UPPENDRA GOWDA B.T AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS R/O BERKODIGE(P) KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU DIST PIN CODE-577126 SHARE NO-0001000928 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. K. PRASANNA SHETTY, ADVOCATE) AND:
1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, M.S. BUILDING, DR. B.R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560 001. REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY. 2. THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION AUTHORITY 3RD FLOOR, TTMC A BLOCK, K.H. ROAD, SHANTINAGAR, BANGALORE-560027 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 3.
THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT- 560 027
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4. THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT-560 027
5. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. PRIMARY AGRICULTURE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD., KOPPA, KOPPA TALUK, CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT-577 126 (SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE KARNATAKA CO-OPE SOCIETIES ACT-1959)
6. RETURNING OFFICER PRIMARY AGRICULTURE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD., KOPPA, KOPPA TALUK, CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT-577126 (SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE KARNATAKA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT-1959) …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SIDDHARTH BABURAO, AGA FOR R1, R3, R4 & R6;
SRI. T.L. KIRAN KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2;
SRI. DEVI PRASAD SHETTY, ADVOCATE FOR R5)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT NO.2 TO 6 TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE PETITIONERS IN THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS LIST AND PERMIT THE PETITIONERS TO CONTEST AND VOTES IN THE ELECTIONS TO THE RESPONDENT NO.5 WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON 29.12.2024 ANNEXURE A AND ETC. - 15 -
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THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA
ORAL ORDER The petitioners are seeking for the following prayers:-
"Issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent No.2 to 6 to include the name of the petitioners in the eligible voters list and permit the petitioners to contest and votes in the elections to the respondent No.5 which is scheduled to be held on 29.12.2024 Annexure-A"
2. This Court by way of an interim arrangement on 20.12.2024 permitted the petitioners to cast their votes in the ensuing election scheduled on 29.12.2024 subject to final outcome of this petition.
3. Heard Sri K. Prasanna Shetty, learned counsel for the petitioners, Sri Siddharth Babu Rao, learned AGA for respondent Nos.1, 3, 4 and 6, Sri T.L. Kiran Kumar,
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learned counsel for respondent No.2 and Sri Devi Prasad Shetty, learned counsel for respondent No.5.
4. Counsel for the petitioners submits that the election has been held as scheduled on 29.12.2024 and the petitioners have cast their votes.
5. Reiterating various contentions raised in the writ petition, it is mainly urged that no individual notice is issued to the petitioners while the names of the petitioners are excluded in the final voters list and the respondents have acted against mandate requirement of Rule 13 (D) (2-A) of the Karnataka Co-Operative Societies Rules, 1960 (‘the Rules’ for short). It is urged that the petitioners should be treated as eligible voters and their votes to be counted as valid votes.
6. Respondent No.5-society has not placed any material to indicate the compliance of aforementioned rules. It is brought to the notice of this Court that under identical circumstances, the Co-Ordinate Bench of this
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Court in the case of H.S. Raju and others Vs. State of Karnataka and others1 (H.S. Raju) has permitted the votes to be counted and election results to be announced, keeping open all contentions to be adjudicated in the appropriate forum under Section 70 (2) (c) of the Karnataka Co-Operative Societies Act, 1959 (‘the Act’ for short). Whether the petitioners would incur any disqualification to vote or not is a question of fact to be decided by the appropriate authority under Section 70 (2) (c) of the Act and hence, the following:
ORDER i. Writ petition is disposed of.
ii. The Returning Officer to count the votes, including the votes cast by petitioners and announce the results of the election, which was scheduled on 29.12.2024, if not already announced.
iii. Aggrieved party is entitled to raise a dispute under Section 70 (2) (c) of the Act, if raised a dispute under the said provision,
1 2022 (4) AKR 775
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questioning the eligibility of the petitioners to vote in the election to the Board of the respondent – society, the said dispute shall be decided without being influenced by the interim order granted by this Court and it is made clear that granting of an interim
order in favour of the petitioner would not give any finding on the eligibility of the petitioners to vote in the election of the Board of respondent – society.
iv. The eligibility of the petitioners to vote in the election is kept open to be decided in a dispute, if any, raised in this regard.
v. If any such dispute relating to the eligibility of the petitioners to vote in the election to the Board of the respondent-society is raised, the effect of holding the petitioners ineligible to vote and excluding such votes, on the final outcome of the election results shall also be taken into account before passing the final orders.
vi. The vote cast by the petitioners shall be kept in a separate sealed box after counting.
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vii. This Court has not expressed any merits or demerits of the ineligibility of the petitioners.
Sd/- JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA
VS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 52 CT:SNN