- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 5TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 107738 OF 2025 (CS-EL/M) BETWEEN: 1. SAYAWWA GIRIYAPPA PATTED AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 2. LINGAPPA MAHADEVAPPA GODI, AGE:70 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 3. CHANDRAWWA HANAMANTH HUGAR, AGE: 80 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 4. KALLAPPAGOUDA TAMMANAGOUDA PATIL, AGE: 70 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 5. DUNDAPPA BALAPPA HOSALLI AGE: 39 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 6. GURALINGAPPA BASATEPPA HARUGERI AGE: 61 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 7. ASHOK BHEEMAPPA GURAVA AGE: 65 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench, Dharwad - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 8. ARJUN BHEEMAPPA GURAVA AGE: 64 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 9. ANJANA ARUN APROJI AGE: 29 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 10. MAHANAND SIDDAPPA PATED AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 11. KAMALAWWA SHANKRAPPA KELAGADE AGE: 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 12. SAIYYD DAWALSAB JEERADAL AGE: 68 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 13. RAVI APPASI KOPPAD AGE: 49 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 14. HANAMANTH MUTTAPPA KANABUR AGE: 61 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 15. PADMAVATI ARJUN GURAVA AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 16. KRISHNAGOUDA SHIVANAGOUDA PATIL AGE: 36 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 17. APPASIGOUDA TIMMANAGOUDA PATIL, AGE: 55 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 18. SAVIRIBAI KALLAPPA SARWAD AGE: 60 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 19.BASAPPA GURULINGAPPA JANGALI AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 20. BANDAWWA MAHADEVAPPA AMBI AGE: 60 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 21. SATYAWWA BASAPPA HULKUND AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 22. KALLAPPA DUNDAPPA KURABETTA AGE: 63 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 23. IRAMMA HANAMANTH NAIK AGE: 39 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 24. RAMAPPA JAMALAPPA MANG AGE: 56 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 25. HANUMANTH BASALINGAPPA KURBETTA AGE: 70 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 26. MEERASAB MABUSAB JAMADAR AGE: 33 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 27. SHIVAKUMAR KALLAPPA HARUGERI AGE: 34 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 28. SHIVAWWA GANGAPPA KELAGADE AGE: 68 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 29.RANGAWWA BHEEMAPPA SARWAD AGE: 42 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 30. BASAWWA KAREPPA HORATTI AGE: 58 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 31. SURESH KISHTAPPA GADDI AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 32. YAMANAWWA PARAMANAND AMBI AGE: 36 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 33. GIRISH VEERAYYA GANACHARI, AGE: 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 34. SHREEDEVI ANAND HOSAMANI AGE: 32 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 35. MALAWWA BALACHANDRAPPA GURAVA AGE: 61 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 36. DODDAWWA GOURAWWA HARIJANA AGE: 58 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 37. IRAWWA GURULINGAYYA HIREMATH AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 38. ANITHA HANAMANTH JEEWAPUR AGE: 51 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 39. SUNIL SHAMARAO DESHPANDE AGE: 33 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 40. ANEEL SHAMARAO DESHPANDE AGE: 51 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 41. PARAWWA BHEERAPPA HORATTI AGE: 40 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 42. HANAMANTH MALLAPPA GODI AGE: 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 43. INDRAWWA PANDAWWA KELAGADE - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 AGE: 58 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 44. BASAWWA NAGAPPA NAIK AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 45. KALMESH VITHAL AMBI, AGE: 33 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. 46. MALLAPPA VENKAPPA LADDI AGE: 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O: CHANNAL, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. PAVAN KUMAR BHIMAPPA DODDATTI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, 6 TH FLOOR, M.S. BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU 560 001 2. THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION AUTHORITY, REPRESENTED BY ITS COMMISSIONER, 3 RD FLOOR, SHANTI NAGAR, TTMC ‘A’ BLOCK, BENGALURU 560 027 3. THE DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER AND DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY BAGALKOT, TQ & DIST: BAGALKOT 587 301 4. THE RETURNING OFFICER PRATHAMIK KRUSHI PATTIN SAHAKARI SANGH NIYAMIT, CHANNAL, AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313 - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 5. PRATHAMIK KRUSHI PATTIN SAHAKARI SANGH NIYAMIT, CHANNAL REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TQ: MUDHOL, DIST: BAGALKOT 587 313 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RAMESH CHIGARI, AGA FOR R1 AND R3; SRI. G.V. BHARAMAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R4; R5-SERVED) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO: 1. DECLARE THAT SECTION 20(2)(A-IV) AND 20(2) (A-V) OF THE KARNATAKA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT, 1959 AS INTRODUCED BY THE KARNATAKA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021 AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN VIEW OF THE LAW LAID DOWN BY THE HON'BLE APEX COURT IN THE CASE OF UNION OF INDIA VS RAJENDRA SHAH AND ANOTHER, REPORTED IN AIRONLINE 2021 SC 362, HOLDING THE 97TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA THEREBY INSERTING PART IXB TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL INSOFAR AS IT RELATES TO THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. 2. ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO INCLUDE THE NAMES OF THE PETITIONERS IN THE FINAL LIST OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS IN THE BORROWERS CATEGORY AND TO PERMIT THE PETITIONERS TO CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE ELECTION TO THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE 5TH RESPONDENT SOCIETY SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON 19.10.2025 AS PER THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS DATED 29.09.2025 PUBLISHED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT VIDE ANNEXURE-A BY ALLOWING THIS WRIT PETITION, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) 1. Learned counsel appearing for the parties in unison would submit that, the issue in the lis stands covered by judgment rendered by Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P. No.8502/2022 C/w. W.P. No.8477/2022, disposed off on 7th June 2022. The Coordinate Bench of this Court held as follows: “8. In the light of these rival submissions, the question for consideration is: Whether these writ petitions must be disposed of directing the Returning Officer [the fourth respondent and sixth respondents in the respective petitions to announce the results of the elections held on 23.04.2022 including the votes cast by the petitioners. 9. The provisions of Rule 13-D (2-A) of the Rules read as hereunder: (3) The Election Officer shall take steps for publication of voters list in the following manner, namely:- (a) for publication of draft eligible electoral list, a list of defaulters, a list of members whose repayment falls due, before the election date clear fifty days; (b) for calling objections, if any, calling upon the defaulter members to repay the amounts due to the co-operative societies on or before thirty clear days prior to the date of election; - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 (c) the scrutiny and verification of the voters list after payment by defaulters etc., clear twenty days before the ate of election. (d) for publication of final eligible voters list before fifteen clear days prior to the date of election. The underlining is by this Court. 10. These provisions do not leave any room for doubt that an excluded member, with the publication of the Draft Eligible Electoral List, must have an opportunity by way of an individual notice to file objections on exclusion from the Electoral List. It must be shown that the concerned Chief Executive has prepared and sent notice to the affected members. The Public Notice dated 8.11.20211 does not meet these requirements. In fact, it is admitted 1 This Public Notice reads as follows: ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ¨ÉʯÁ wzÀÄÝ¥Àr DzÉñÀ ¸ÀASÉå: r Dgï ªÉÊ: Dgï.J¸ï.Dgï.JA.J.©.¹.Dgï-16/2018- 19 ¢£ÁAPÀ 16.11.2018 gÀAvÉ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À G¥À¤§AzsÀPÀgÀÄ, ªÀÄAqÀå f¯Éè, ªÀÄAqÀågÀªÀgÀÄ ¨ÉʯÁ wzÀÄݪÀrAiÀÄ£ÀÄß D£ÀĪÉÆâ¹ £ÉÆAzÁ¬Ä¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. CzÀgÀAvÉ '©' vÀgÀUÀw gÉÊvÀ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀ µÉÃj£À ªÀÄÄR¨É¯É gÀÆ.1000.00 UÀ¼ÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ µÉÃgÀÄ ±ÀÄ®ÌzÀ ¨Á§Ä gÀÆ.100.00 UÀ¼ÀÄ DVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ªÀiÁ£Àå '©' vÀgÀUÀw ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÁzÀ vÀªÀÄä µÉÃgÀÄ ªÉƧ®UÀÄ gÀÆ.500.00UÀ¼ÀÄ EzÀÄÝ ¨ÁQ µÉÃgÀÄ ªÉƧ®UÀÄ gÀÆ.500.00UÀ¼ÀÄ PÀrªÉÄ EgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. EzÀgÀ eÉÆvÉUÉ ¨ÁQ EgÀĪÀ µÉÃgÀÄ ±ÀÄ®Ì gÀÆ.90.00UÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÉÃj MlÄÖ gÀÆ590,00UÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¥ÁªÀw¸À®Ä ºÁUÀÆ ªÀiÁ£Àå '©' vÀgÀUÀw PÉ®ªÀÅ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀ µÉÃgÀÄ ªÉƧ®UÀÄ gÀÆ.100.00UÀ¼ÀÄ EzÀÄÝ. ¨ÁQ µÉÃgÀÄ ªÉƧ®UÀÄ gÀÆ900.00UÀ¼ÀÄ PÀrªÉÄ EgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. EzÀgÀ eÉÆvÉUÉ ¨ÁQ EgÀĪÀ µÉÃgÀÄ ¸ÀÄ®Ì gÀÆ 100.00UÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÉÃj MlÄÖ gÀÆ 1000.00UÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¢£ÁAPÀ:11.12.2021 gÉƼÀUÉ ¸ÀAWÀPÉÌ ¥ÁªÀw¸ÀĪÀAvÉ F ªÀÄÆ®PÀ vÀªÀÄUÉ w½¹zÉ. ªÀÄÄAzÀĪÀjzÀÄ EzÀ®èzÉ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À C¢ü¤AiÀÄ£ÀÄ 1959gÀ ¥ÀæPÀgÀt 20(2) (J4) ºÁUÀÆ (J5)gÀrAiÀÄ°è£À CªÀPÁ±ÀUÀ¼ÀAvÉAiÀÄÆ CºÀðvÉAiÀÄÆ ºÉÆA¢gÀ¨ÉÃPÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. vÀ¦àzÀ°è ªÀÄÄAzÉ d£ÀªÀj 2022gÀ ªÀiÁºÉAiÀÄ°è £ÀqÉAiÀÄ°gÀĪÀ DqÀ½vÀ ªÀÄAqÀ° ZÀÄ£ÁªÀuÉAiÀÄ°è ªÀÄvÀ ZÀ¯Á¬Ä¸À®Ä ºÁUÀÆ ¸Àà¢üð¸À®Ä CªÀPÁ±À«gÀĪÀÅ¢®è JA§ «µÀAiÀĪÀ£ÀÄß F ªÀÄÆ®PÀ vÀªÀÄUÉ w½¸À¯ÁVzÉ. - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 on behalf of the respondents that there are deficiencies in the preparation of the Final Electoral Roll after the publication of the Draft Eligible Electoral List, and the petitioners have not been issued with individual notices. 11. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Shri Sant Sadguru Janardan Swami (Moingiri Maharaj) Sahakari Dugha Utpadak Sanstha and Another v. State of Maharashtra and Others supra has held as follows: ‘7. A perusal of the Rules discloses that the preparation of provisional list of voters, filing of objection against the provisional list of voters, consideration of the objection by the Collector and finalising the list of voters, all occur in the Rules which cover the entire process of the election. The Rules framed for election of specified societies are complete code in itself providing for the entire process of election beginning from the stage of preparation of the provisional voters list, decision on the objection by the Collector, finalisation of electoral rolls, holding of election and declaration of result of the election. In view of the scheme of the Act and Rules, the preparation of voters' list must be held to be part of the election process for constituting managing committee of a specified society. 12. In view of our finding that preparation of the electoral roll is being an intermediate stage in the process of election of the managing committee of a specified society and the election process having been set in motion, it is well settled that the High Court should not stay the continuation of the election process even though there may be some alleged illegality or breach of rules while preparing the electoral roll. It is not disputed that the election in question has already been held and the result thereof has been stayed by an order of this Court, and once the result of the election is declared, it would be open to the appellant to challenge the election - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 of returned candidate, if aggrieved, by means of an election petition before the election tribunal. 12. It follows from this decision that the adjudication of all questions must be as provided under Section 70(2) of the Co-operative Societies Act2. However, in the present case the respondents admit that there are deficiencies in finalization of Final Electoral List. The petitioners are admittedly not issued with individual notice as required under the provisions of Rule13-D (2-A) of the Co-operative Societies Rules; the petitioners have now cast their votes in the elections on 23.04.2022; the petitioners are not given the opportunity to show cause against the allegations that they have created documents. The respondents, despite admitting deficiencies in finalisation of the Final Electoral List, want to invoke the rule of alternative remedy. This Court is of the considered view that, in the peculiarities of this case, the writ petitions should be disposed of with directions to the concerned respondent to announce results counting even the votes cast by the petitioners and with liberty to all the concerned to avail remedy under Section 70(2) of the Act if aggrieved by the results. If such remedy is availed raising a dispute, exclusion of votes of those petitioners who are guilty of fraud can also be considered based on the material that will be placed on record. 2 70. Disputes which may be referred to Registrar for decision.- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, if any dispute touching the constitution, management, or the business of a co-operative society arises,— (a) xxxxxxxxx (2). For the purposes of sub-section (1), the following shall be deemed to be disputes touching the constitution, management or the business of a co-operative society, namely:— (a). XXXXXXXXXXX (b). XXXXXXXXXXXXX (c). any dispute arising in connection with the election of a President, Vice- president, Chairman, Vice-chairman, Secretary, Treasurer or Member of Committee of the society. - 12 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:15132 WP No. 107738 of 2025 Therefore, writ petitions are disposed of calling upon the Returning Officer [the fourth respondent/sixth respondent in the respective petitions] to announce the result forthwith including the votes cast by the petitioners in both the petitions. All the contentions are left open for consideration in appropriate proceedings, if commenced.” 2. Learned counsel would submit that, if the same order is passed, it would suffice in this case also. 3. In that light, the writ petition is disposed calling upon the respondent – Returning Officer to announce the result forthwith including the votes cast by the petitioners. All the contentions are left open for consideration in appropriate proceedings, if commenced. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE RHR/- CT:ANB List No.: 2 Sl No.: 5