- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17323 WP No. 107499 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 5TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 107499 OF 2018 (CS-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SHRI.BASAVESHWAR VIDHYAVARDHAK SANGH BADACHI, TQ: ATHANI, DIST: BELAGAVI, RETED BY ITS PRESIDENT, SHRI.MAN.NIRANJANA PRANAVA SWARUPI MAHASWAMIJIGULU, SHRI.GURULINGADEVARU AKKIMATH, AND ALSO BADACHI, TQ: ATHANI, DIST: BELAGAVI-591304. 2. SHRI.BASAVESHWAR VIDHYAVARDHAK SANGH BADACHI TQ: ATHANI, DIST: BELAGAVI, RETED BY ITS SECRETARY, SRI.SHIVAKUMAR S/O. SHIVAJIRAO DESAI, AGE: 36 YEARS, OCC: SECRETARY, R/O: BADACHI, TQ: ATHANI, DIST: BELAGAVI-591304. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. MAHANTESH R. PATIL, ADVOCATE) VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka Dharwad Bench Date: 2025.12.11 16:18:12 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17323 WP No. 107499 of 2018 AND: 1. THE DISTRICT REGISTRAR OF SOCIETY and DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, BELAGAVI, DIST: BELAGAVI-580001. 2. SRI.GOUDAPPA S/O APPASAB SAMAGOUD, AGE: 34 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, ALLEGED PRESIDENT OF SHRI.BASAVESHWAR VIDHYAVARDHAK SANGH, R/O: BADACHI, TQ: ATHANI, DIST: BELAGAVI-591304. 3. THE ENQUIRY OFFICER, SRI. BASAVESHWAR VIDHYAVARDHAK SANGH, BADACHI, TQ: ATHANI, DIST: BELAGAVI. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NANDINI SOMAPUR, AGA FOR R1; SRI. SHIVARAJ P. MUDHOL, ADVOCATE FOR R2; R3-SERVED) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT QUASHING THE IMPUGNED ORDER PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 DATED:26.10.2018 BEARING NO.NILL PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-'Q' BY ALLOWING THE WRIT PETITION AND ETC., THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17323 WP No. 107499 of 2018 ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) 1. The petitioners are before this Court seeking the following prayer: (a) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other appropriate writ quashing the impugned order passed by the Respondent No.1 dated 26.10.2018 bearing No.NIL produced at Annexure-'Q' by allowing the writ petition, in the interest of justice and equity. (b) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other appropriate writ quashing the impugned report dated 26.10.2018 passed by the Respondent No.3 produced at Annexure-'P' by allowing the writ petition, in the interest of justice and equity. (c) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other appropriate writ quashing the impugned notice issued by Respondent No.2 dated 27.10.2018 produced at Annexure-'S' by allowing the writ petition, in the interest of justice and equity. (d) Issue such other writ or orders or direction that may deemed proper and necessary under the facts and circumstances of the case, be issued in the interest of justice. 2. Petitioner No.1 is claiming to be the President of respondent No.3 – Society, communicates list of office bearers of the petitioners, which is said to have been approved by respondent No.2. Respondents Nos.4 to 12 are alleged to have created certain documents without notice to the petitioners and - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17323 WP No. 107499 of 2018 other members. Respondent No.2 – the District Registrar of Co- operative Societies is said to have initiated proceedings under Section 25 and delegates, the conduct of the enquiry, to an enquiry officer appointed. The enquiry officer appointed submits his report. On the report, the District Registrar is said to have communicated to the Society to hold elections in terms of the report of the enquiry officer. It is at that stage the petitioners are before this Court eight years ago and further proceedings have remained stayed. 3. Learned counsel Shri Shivaraj Mudhol appearing for the petitioners submits that the role of the District Registrar on the enquiry report is only like a postman that he would only communicate the report of the enquiry officer to the Society for further action. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents would however refute the submission in contending that the District Register is required to verify the veracity of the findings in the enquiry officer's report and then communicate whether elections have to be held or otherwise. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17323 WP No. 107499 of 2018 5. Therefore, the issue now lies whether the District Register on the report of the enquiry officer appointed by him, is merely a postman to communicate it to the Society or has to consider the findings and then communicate after knowing the veracity of the allegations. 6. The issue lies in a narrow compass. Rule 8 of the Karnataka Societies Registration Rules, 1961, reads as follows. “8. Enquiry by the Registrar.- (1) Where the Registrar proposed to hold an enquiry under Section 25, either on his own motion or on an application, he or the person authorised by him under the said section to hold an enquiry shall issue notice to the society concerned in this behalf. (2) The said notice shall specify a date on which, place in which and the time at which, as also the matters in respect of which the enquiry will be held. The notice shall also call upon the society to furnish its explanation in respect of matters referred to therein before the elate specified in the notice. (3) The society shall furnish its explanation to the Registrar or the authorised person before such date. (4) On the date fixed for the enquiry, or on such other date or dates to which the enquiry might be adjourned, the Registrar or the authorised person shall give the society a oral hearing. He may also examine such persons as may be considered necessary. He may receive any relevant document. If the society fails to furnish its explanation as required under sub-rule (3) or to attend the enquiry on the date fixed or the adjourned date, the Registrar or the authorised person may proceed with the enquiry ex parte. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17323 WP No. 107499 of 2018 (5) On the completion of the enquiry, the Registrar or the authorised person shall record his findings and communicate the same to the society concerned].” (Emphasis supplied) 7. Rule 8 deals with the enquiry by the Registrar. When the Registrar proposes to hold an enquiry under Section 25 and either on his own motion or on an application or delegate the holding of an enquiry to another authority; sub Rule (5) of Rule 8 indicates that on completion of the enquiry, the Registrar or the authorized person shall record his findings and communicate the same to the Society concerned. In the case at hand, an enquiry under Section 25 is delegated to be conducted by the enquiry officer. Enquiry officer submits his report. The report is as follows: “8] CzÉà ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 05-04-2017 gÀAzÀÄ dgÀÄVzÀ ªÁ¶ðPÀ ¸ÀªÀð ¸ÁzsÁgÀuÁ ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ £ÉÆÃn¸ÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 27-04-2017 gÀAzÀÄ dgÀÄVzÀ ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ £ÀqÀĪÀ½UÀ¼À£ÀÄß UÀªÀĤ¹zÁUÀ PɼÀPÀAqÀ ¯ÉÆÃ¥ÀzÉÆõÀUÀ¼ÀÄ PÀAqÀÄ §gÀÄvÀÛªÉ. i] ¢£ÁAPÀ: 05-04-2017 gÀ £ÉÆÃnøÀÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸ÀAWÀzÀ J®è ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀåjUÉ eÁj ªÀiÁrzÀ §UÉÎ zÁR¯ÁwUÀ¼À£ÀÄß MzÀV¸ÀĪÀ°è PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ðAiÀÄÄ «¥sÀ®gÁVzÁÝgÉ. ii] ¢£ÁAPÀ:27-04-2017 gÀ ªÁ¶ðPÀ ¸ÀªÀð ¸ÁzsÁgÀt ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ £ÀqÀĪÀ½UÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¥Àj²Ã°¸À¯ÁV ¸ÀAWÀzÀ MlÄÖ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀ ¸ÀASÉå 21 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ºÁdjzÀÝ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀ ¸ÀASÉå: 21 JAzÀÄ vÉÆÃj¹zÁÝgÉ. EzÀ£ÀÄß UÀªÀĤ¹zÀgÉà PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ðAiÀĪÀgÀÄ G¥À¤AiÀĪÀÄ 28 gÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ J®è zÁR¯ÉUÀ¼À ¸Áé¢üãÀvÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ºÉÆA¢zÀ PÁAiÀiÁðzsÀåPÀëgÀ£ÀÄß ¸ÀA¥ÀQð¹ J®è ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀ AiÀiÁ¢ ¥Àj²Ã°¸ÀzÉà ªÀÄvÀÄÛ CªÀjAzÀ ¸ÀªÀð¸ÁzsÁgÀt ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ £ÀqÀĪÀ½ ¥ÀŸÀÛPÀ ¥ÀqÉAiÀÄÄzÉà £À¨sÉAiÀÄ £ÀqÀĪÀ½UÀ¼À£ÀÄß zÁR°¹zÀÄÝ PÀAqÀÄ §gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17323 WP No. 107499 of 2018 iii] d£ÀgÀ ºÁdgÁw vÉÆÃj¸ÀĪÀ F ¸À¨sÉUÉ ºÁdgÁzÀªÀgÀ°è CzsÀåPÀë ºÁUÀÆ PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ðAiÀĪÀgÀ£ÀÄß M¼ÀUÉÆAqÀÄ 05 d£ÀgÀÄ C¢üÃPÀÈvÀªÁV PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À £ÉÆÃAzÀt PÁAiÉÄÝ 1960 gÀ PÀ®A 2 [J] ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÉà EgÀĪÀÅ¢¯Áè, iv] D ¢£ÁAPÀzÀAzÀÄ 99 d£À ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀÄ EgÀĪÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ°è PÉêÀ® 10 d£À ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀÄ ºÁdjzÀÝjAzÀ G¥À¤AiÀĪÀÄ £ÀA. 9 ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ PÉÆÃgÀA ¥ÀÇwðAiÀiÁUÀĪÀÅ¢¯Áè. v] F ªÉÄð£À CA±ÀUÀ¼À ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 05-04-2017 gÀ £ÉÆÃn¸ÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 27-04-2017 oÀ ¸ÀªÀð¸ÁzsÁgÀt ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄÄ JgÀqÀÄ C£ÀÆfðvÀUÉƼÀÄîvÀÛªÉ. DzÀÝjAzÀ F ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ oÀgÁªÀÅ £ÀA. 3 gÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ dgÀÄVzÉ J£À߯ÁzÀ DqÀ½vÀ ªÀÄAqÀ½AiÀÄ DAiÉÄÌAiÀÄÄ ¹AzsÀĪÁUÀĪÀÅ¢®è. 9] DzÀÝjAzÀ ¥ÀæZÀ°vÀ G¥À¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼À ¥ÀæPÁgÀ PÁAiÀiÁðzsÀåPÀëgÀÄ vÀéjvÀªÁV ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ¸ÀªÀð¸ÁzsÁgÀt ¸À¨sÉ PÀgÉzÀÄ ¸ÀA¥ÀzÀ G¥À¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼À ¥ÀæPÁgÀ C¢üÃPÀÈvÀ DqÀ½vÀ ªÀÄAqÀ½AiÀÄ gÀZÀ£É ªÀiÁrPÉƼÀÄîªÀÅzÀÄ ¸ÀÆPÀÛ«zÉ JAzÀÄ C©ü¥ÁæAiÀÄ ¥ÀlÄÖ F «ZÁgÀuÁ ªÀgÀ¢AiÀÄ£ÀÄß ªÀÄÄA¢£À PÀæªÀÄPÉÌ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À £ÉÆÃAzÁuÁ¢üPÁj¼ÀÆ DzÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À G¥À¤§AzsÀPÀgÀÄ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« EªÀjUÉ EAzÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ:26-10-2018 gÀAzÀÄ ¸À°è¸À¯ÁVzÉ.” 8. The enquiry officer recommends that elections have to be conducted to the Society. This is placed before the District Registrar. The action to be taken is under sub-rule (5) of Rule 8 of the Rules by the District Registrar is as follows: “UÉ CzsÀåPÀëgÀÄ, §¸ÀªÉñÀégÀ «zÁåªÀzsÀðPÀ ¸ÀAWÀ. §qÀa vÁ॥ CxÀtÂ. f¯Áè ¨É¼ÀUÁ«. «µÀAiÀÄ: PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À £ÉÆAzÀt PÁAiÉÄÝ-1960 gÀ PÀ®A 25 gÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ «ZÁgÀuÉ. G¯ÉèÃR: 1] F PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄzÀ DzÉñÀ PÀæ.¸À.r.Dgï.J¯ï/ J¸ï N.Dgï/ «ZÁgÀuÉ 28/2018-19 : 22/09/2018. 2] «ZÁgÀuÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼À ªÀgÀ¢ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 26/10/2018. ªÉÄïÁÌt¹zÀ «µÀAiÀÄPÉÌ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀAvÉ ²æÃ. §¸ÀªÉñÀégÀ «zÁåªÀzsÀðPÀ ¸ÀAWÀ §qÀa F ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ±Á¸À£À §zÀÞ «ZÁgÀuÉUÉ G¯ÉèÃR (1) ¥ÀæPÁgÀ F PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄ¢AzÀ DzÉñÀ - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17323 WP No. 107499 of 2018 ªÀiÁqÀ¯ÁVvÀÄÛ CzÀgÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ «ZÁgÀuÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ G¯ÉèÃR (2) gÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ vÀªÀÄä ªÀgÀ¢AiÀÄ£ÀÄß F PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄPÉÌ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 26/10/2018 gÀAzÀÄ ¸À°è¹zÁÝgÉ ¸ÀzÀjà ªÀgÀ¢AiÀÄ£ÀÄß PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À £ÉÆAzÀt ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ 1961 gÀ gÀÆ® 8/5 gÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ªÀÄÄA¢£À PÀæªÀÄPÉÌ PÀ½¸À¯ÁVzÉ. f¯Áè ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À £ÉÆAzÀuÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À G¥À¤§AzsÀPÀgÀÄ ¨É¼ÀUÁ«.” 9. As observed hereinabove, the District Registrar under the scheme of the statute cannot act as, only a postman. The rule is unequivocal. The rule indicates that on completion of enquiry the Registrar or the authorized person shall record his findings and communicate the same to the Society. If the finding of the District Registrar as quoted herein above is considered on the bedrock of the mandate of the Rule, it would undoubtedly fall foul of the same, for the reason that the communication of the District Registrar does not indicate even a semblance of application of mind. What has come from the enquiry, he has enclosed it and sent it. But the rule is indicative of the fact that the authorized person shall record his findings and communicate the same to the Society. There is not a line of finding recorded by the District Registrar, while communicating the same to the Society. 10. Therefore, the action of the District Registrar is in violation of sub-rule (5) of Rule 8 of the Rules. The District - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:17323 WP No. 107499 of 2018 Registrar shall now redo the exercise on receipt of the enquiry report and communicate the same to the Society, if need would still subsists. 11. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER (i) The writ petition is allowed in part. (ii) The impugned order passed by respondent No.1, dated 26.10.2018 vide Annexure-Q; the impugned report passed by respondent No.3, dated 26.10.2018 vide Annexure-P; and the impugned notice issued by respondent No.2, dated 27.10.2018 vide Annexure-S stand quashed. (iii) The matter is remitted back to the hands of the District Registrar to consider the report of the enquiry officer dated 26.10.2018 and pass necessary orders communicating it to the Society, bearing in mind the observations made in the course of the order. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE VNP / CT: ANB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 2.2