- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43959 WP No. 31936 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE M G UMA WRIT PETITION NO. 31936 OF 2025 (CS-EL/M) BETWEEN: 1. THE MADAHALLI MILK PRODUCERS CO OPERATIVE SOCIETY, THE MADAHALLI VILLAGE, NAGAMANAGALA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY, SRI. RAMAKRISHNEGOWDA. M.N, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 2. THE KALLENAHALLI MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT KALLENGAHALLI VILLAGE, NAGAMANAGALA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432., REP BY ITS SECRETARY SMT. SHASHIKALA. D.R. (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT-1959) 3. THE GOLLARAHALLI MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT GOLLARAHALLI VILLAGE, NAGAMANAGALA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY, SMT. JAYALAKSHMI, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 4. THE P. CHITTANAHALLI WOMEN'S MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/ATP. CHITTANAHALLI, NAGAMANAGALA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY, SMT. ARPITHA. N.S, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) Digitally signed by PRASHANTH N V Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43959 WP No. 31936 of 2025 5. THE ALPAHALLI MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT ALPAHALLI VILLAGE, NAGAMANAGALA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY, SRI. A.S. RANGASWAMY, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 6. THE KELAGERE MILK PRODUCERS O/AT KELAGERE VILLAGE, NAGAMANAGALA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY, SRI. CHANNAVEERA. (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 7. THE AREHALLI MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT AREHALLI VILLAGE, NAGAMANAGALA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY, SRI. D.R. RAMESH, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 8. THE CHOLENAHALLI MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT CHOLENAHALLI VILLAGE, NAGAMANAGALA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY, SRI. C.N. KANTHARAJU, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 9. THE KARADAHALLI MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT KARADAHALI VILLAGE, NAGAMANAGALA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432., REP BY ITS SECRETARY SRI. BOREGOWDA @ JAYARAMU, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 10. THE SRINIVASA AGRAHARA MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT SRINIVASA AGRAHARA VILLAGE, SRIRANGAPATANA TALUK, MANDYA - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43959 WP No. 31936 of 2025 DISTRICT-571 432., REP BY ITS SECRETARY SRI. SRI. LAKSHMIKANTH (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT-1959) 11. THE T.M. HOSURU MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT T.M. HOSURU, VILLAGE, SRIRANGAPATTANA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432., REP BY ITS SECRETARY SRI. MAHESHA. H.T. (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT-1959) 12. THE JAKKANAHALLI MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT JAKKANAHALLI VILLAGE, SRIRANGAPATTANA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432., REP BY ITS SECRETARY SRI. LOKESHA, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT-1959) 13. THE BETTAHALLI WOMEN'S MILK PRODUCERS CO OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT BETTAHALLI VILLAGE, SRIRANGAPATTANA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY SMT. SUMITHRA. A.C, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 14. THE KADATANALU MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT KADATANALU VILLAGE, SRIRANGAPATTNA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY SRI. SRIDHARA. R. (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 15. THE RAYASAMUDRA MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT RAYASAMUDRA VILLAGE, K.R PETE TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY, SRI. BASAVARAJU. R.M, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 16. THE HARALAHALLI MILK PRODUCER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT HARALAHALLI VILLAGE, K.R. PETE TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432., REP BY ITS SECRETARY, SRI. MANJUNATHA. H.J, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43959 WP No. 31936 of 2025 1959) 17. THE KOTTAHALLI MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT KOTTAHALLI VILLAGE, K.R. PETE TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432., REP BY ITS SECRETARY SRI. K.N. NAGENDRA, (REGISTERED UNDER CO- OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT-1959) 18. THE CHINNENAHALLI WOMEN'S MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT CHINNENAHALLI VILLAGE, K.R. PETE TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY SMT. BHAVYA. C.R. (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 19. THE DINKASHETTAHALLI WOMEN'S MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT DINKASHETTAHALLI VILLAGE, PANDAVAPURA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432. REP BY ITS SECRETARY SMT. KUSUMA. G, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT- 1959) 20. THE HOSAHALLI MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, O/AT HOSAHALLI VILLAGE, PANDAVAPURA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 432., REP BY ITS SECRETARY SRI. H.C. PRAKASHA, (REGISTERED UNDER CO- OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT-1959) …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. RAVINDRA PRASAD .B., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, VIKASASOUDHA, BANGALORE-560 001. 2. THE CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION COMMISSIONER, 3RD FLOOR, SHANTHINAGAR TTMC, A BLOCK, K.H.ROAD, SHANTHINAGAR, BANGALORE-560027. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43959 WP No. 31936 of 2025 3. THE RETURNING OFFICER THE MANDYA DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE CENTRAL BANK LTD, O/AT PEETEBEEDI, KRS MAIN ROAD, MANDYA TALUK AND DISTRICT, MANDYA-571 401. 4. THE MANDYA DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE CENTRAL BANK LTD, O/AT PEETEBEEDI, KRS MAIN ROAD, MANDYA TALUK AND DISTRICT, MANDYA-571 401. REP BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, (REGISTERED UNDER KARNATAKA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT-1959) …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. YOGESH .D. NAIK, AGA FOR R1 SRI. A. DEVARAJ, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.3 AND 4 INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE PETITIONERS SOCIETIES IN THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS LIST I.E., ANNEXURE-B, AND PERMIT THE PETITIONERS SOCIETIES TO CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE ELECTION TO THE 4TH RESPONDENT BANK/SOCIETY BOARD WHICH IS SCHEDULE TO BE HELD ON 02-11-2025. AND ETC., THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE M G UMA - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43959 WP No. 31936 of 2025 ORAL ORDER Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Additional Government Advocate for respondent No.1. 2. The petitioners are seeking issuance of writ in the nature of Mandamus, directing respondents No.3 and 4 to include their names in the eligible voters' list and permit them to contest and cast votes in the election that was scheduled to be held on 02.11.2025, produced as per Annexure-B. 3. Learned Additional Government Advocate submits that, as per the interim order dated 24.10.2025, the petitioners were permitted to cast votes in the election that was held on 02.11.2025 subject to final outcome of the petition. It is also ordered that the petitioners shall not claim any equities in this regard. The petitioners have not raised dispute under Section 70 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act (for short, 'the KCS Act') before the appropriate authority and therefore, he prays for passing appropriate orders. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that he has not raised dispute under Section 70 of the KCS Act in view of the urgency in the matter. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43959 WP No. 31936 of 2025 5. Now the purpose of the petitioners is served and they were permitted to cast vote in the election and cast votes that was held on 02.11.2025. Since the petitioners are challenging Annexure-B, they will have the alternative remedy to raise dispute under Section 70 of the KCS Act before the appropriate authority. Under such circumstances, nothing is required to be considered by this Court bypassing Section 70 of the KCS Act. 6. Hence, the petition is disposed off, reserving liberty to the petitioners to approach the appropriate authority, raising dispute under Section 70 KCS Act, within two weeks from today. In the meantime, the Returning Officer-respondent No.3 is directed to announce the election result without counting the vote already cast by the petitioners. Sd/- (M G UMA) JUDGE MKM CT:VS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 14