- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:5358 WP No. 101993 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE JYOTI MULIMANI WRIT PETITION NO. 101993 OF 2025 (GM-CON) BETWEEN: SRI. BASAGOUDA MALAGOUDA PATIL, AGE: 47 YEARS, R/O: ARJUNWAD, TQ: HUKKERI, DIST: BELAGAVI, THE VICE-CHAIRMAN, PRIDE VIVIDHODDESHAGALA SOUHARDA SAHAKARI NIYAMIT, HUKKERI, NEAR OLD BUS STAND TQ: HUKKERI, DIST: BELAGAVI-591 309. … PETITIONER (BY SRI. SRINIVAS B. NAIK, ADVOCATE) AND: SHIVANAND RACHAYYA PUJERI, AGE: 95 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O A/P: AMMANAGI, TQ: HUKKERI, DIST: BELAGAVI-591 309. … RESPONDENT THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, SEEKING CERTAIN RELIEFS. THIS WRIT PETITION IS LISTED FOR HEARING- INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION, THIS DAY, AN ORDER IS MADE AS UNDER: Digitally signed by PREMCHANDRA M R Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:5358 WP No. 101993 of 2025 ORAL ORDER Sri.Srinivas B.Naik., counsel for the petitioner has appeared in person. 2. The captioned Writ Petition is filed seeking following reliefs: i. Issue a Writ of Certiorari and quash the proceedings in Criminal Complaint No.178/2024 on the file of the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Belagavi, vide Annexure-C, in the ends of justice and equity. ii. Issue a Writ of Certiorari and quash the impugned order dated 06.02.2024 passed in complaint No.180/2022 on the file of the District Consumer Redressal Commission, Belagavi, vide Annexure-B, In so far as Petitioner concern in the interest of justice and equity. - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:5358 WP No. 101993 of 2025 3. Counsel for the petitioner urged several contentions. Heard the arguments and perused the writ papers with care. 4. The petitioner contends that he is the Director of Pride Vividoddeshagala Souharda Sahakari Niyamit, Hukkeri and it is a society registered under the provisions of the Karnataka Souharda Sahakari Act, 1997. His grievance is about the initiation of a criminal complaint against him in Criminal Petition No.178/2024. 5. Counsel for the petitioner in presenting his arguments strenuously urged that the society is registered under the provisions of the Karnataka Souharda Sahakari Act, 1997 and a criminal complaint is filed without making the society as a primary party to the proceedings. Counsel therefore, submits that an appropriate order may be passed. 6. It is not in dispute that the said society is registered under the Karnataka Souharda Sahakari Act, 1997. The first respondent filed a criminal compliant against the petitioner. A true copy of the compliant is furnished along with the Writ Petition and the same is marked as Annexure-C. A perusal of - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:5358 WP No. 101993 of 2025 the cause title of the criminal compliant reflects that the society has not been made as a primary party to the proceedings. Because the society is registered under the Karnataka Souharda Sahakari Act, 1997, the complainant ought to have made the society as a primary party to the proceedings. The Writ Petition is disposed of with a liberty to move an application seeking the redressal of his grievance about non- arraying of the society as a primary party to the criminal complaint before the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Belagavi. If such an application is made, the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Belagavi shall consider the application and pass orders in accordance with law. Because of the disposal of the Writ Petition, all pending interlocutory applications if any are disposed of and the interim order if any granted by this Court stands discharged. Sd/- (JYOTI MULIMANI) JUDGE CLK LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 36