- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO.107563 OF 2024 (CS-EL/M) BETWEEN: 1. SHRI. CHANAGOUDA SHANKARGOUDA PATIL, AGED: 49 YRS., OCC: AGRICULTURE. 2. SHRI. SANJU BABASAHEB DESAI, AGED: 49 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 3. SHRI. VENKATRAO GIRAJOJIRAO DESAI, AGED: 31 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 4. SMT. SAVITRI CHANDRAPPA PATIL, AGED: 55 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 5. SHRI. BASAVARAJ CHANNAPPA SANKESHWARI, AGED: 51 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 6. SMT. GEETANJALI GIRAJOJIRAO DESAI, AGED: 60 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 7. SHRI. RAJU APPASAHEB MAGADUM, AGED: 40 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 8. SHRI. BASAGOUDA MALAGOUDA PATIL, AGED: 70 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 9. SHRI SHIVAJI SANTRAM KADAGAVI, AGED: 56 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 10. SMT. KAVERI MALLAPPA CHOUGALA, AGED: 23 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka Dharwad Bench Date: 2025.01.22 10:57:26 +0530 - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 11. SMT. SUJATA MALLAPPA CHOUGALA, AGED: 40 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 12. SMT. DUNDAVVA DUNDAPPA KALAYI, AGED: 65 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 13. SHRI. SUBHASH RAMAPPA BUDDAGOL, AGED: 48 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 14. SMT. SHOBA SUBASH BUDDAGOL, AGED: 38 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 15. SMT. JYOTI BASAVARAJ ARALIKATTI AGED: 35 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 16. SHRI. ISHWAR VIRUPAXI HANJI, AGED: 56 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 17. SHRI. MARUTI BALAPPA MAGADUM, AGED: 49 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 18. SHRI ISAQ DASTAGIR SHEIKH (MULTANI) AGED: 48 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 19. SHRI. SUNIL BASAVARAJ KONE, AGED: 26 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 20. SHRI. CHANDRAKANT KARAVEER NAIK, AGED: 25 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 21. SMT. RATNAVVA NINGAPPA NAIK, AGED: 51 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 22. SHRI. RAJSHEKHAR BALAGOUDA PATIL AGED: 58 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 23. SHRI. CHIDANANA RAYAPPA RAMANI, AGED: 42 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 24. SHRI. SACHIN DUNDAPPA MAGADUM, AGED: 24 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 25. SMT. SUNITA SANJAYKUMAR PERESHI, AGED: 35 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 26. SHRI. SHIVAJI CHANDRAPPA GANGAYIGOL, AGED: 51 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 27. SHRI. SHIVAGOUDA BALAGOUDA PATIL, AGED: 63 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 28. SHRI. KUTUBUDDIN NABISAB BISIROTTI, AGED: 65 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 29. SHRI. KADAPPA BASAVANNI MAGADUM (KOCHERI), AGED: 35 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 30. SHRI. ARUN BHIMAPPA MAGADUM, AGED: 61 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 31. SHRI. IRAPPA BASAPPA CHOUGALA, AGED: 55 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 32. SHRI. DUNDAPPA BASAPPA MAGADUM, AGED: 45 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 33. SMT. DEVANI SANJU DESAI, AGED: 42 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 34. SHRI. SHANKARGOUDA BASAGOUDA PATIL, AGED: 25 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 35. SHRI. KALAVATI LAKHAMGOUDA TERANI AGED: 39 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE 36. SMT. SUJATA APPASAHEB HANDIGUNDI, AGED: 30 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 37. SMT. SHANTAVVA SHETIGOUDA PATIL, AGED: 59 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 38. SHRI. MAHAVEER DHANAPAL MASARAGUPPI, AGED: 34 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 39. SHRI. SHEKAR DUNDAPPA MOSHI, AGED: 33 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 40. SHRI. AKASH MAHADEV MAGADUM, AGED: 23 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 41. SHRI. MALLIKARJUN BASAVARAJ LATTI, AGED: 24 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 42. SHRI. GURUNATH MAHADEV MALED, AGED: 38 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 43. SHRI. KEMPANNA LAKKAPPA CHOUGALA, AGED: 61 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE, 44. SHRI. ASHOK SANTRAM KHADAGAVI, AGED: 55 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 45. SHRI. RAMAGOUDA BAPU PATIL, AGED: 26 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE, 46. SHRI. RAMESH SATAPPA KOCHARIKAR, AGED: 65 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 47. SHRI. SHANKARGOUDA DUNDAPPA KALAYI, AGED: 32 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 48. SHRI. SHIVAGOUDA DUNDAPPA KALAYI , AGED: 32 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 49. SHRI. RANJANA ASHOK LATTI, AGED: 40 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 50. SMT. DRAKSHAYANI RAMAPPA KABADAGI, AGED: 35 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 51. SMT. MAHADEVI DUNDAPPA MARENNAVAR, AGED: 32 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 52. SMT. IRAVVA NINGAPPA BORAGALI, AGED: 65YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 53. SMT. BHARATI DUNDAPPA URABINATTI, - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 AGED: 31 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 54. SMT. GOURAVVA MARUTI URABINATTI, AGED: 40 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 55. SMT. SHOBHA CHANDRASHEKAR URABINATTI, AGED: 35 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 56. SMT. SHOBHA SUBHASH LATTI, AGED: 40 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE, 57. SHRI. JAMAL SHIKANDAR VALLEBAI, AGED: 33 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 58. SHRI. PRABHAKAR BHIMAPPA MAGADUM, AGED: 33 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 59. SHRI. DUNDAPPA MARUTI MAGADUM, AGED: 31 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 60. SMT. LAXMI MAHATESH CHOUGALA, AGED: 32 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 61. SHRI. MARUTI DUNDAPPA DAROJI, AGED: 45 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 62. SHRI. MARUTI NINGAPPA MAGADUM, AGED: 32 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 63. SHRI. DUNDAPPA NINGAPPA MAGADUM, AGED: 32 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 64. SHRI. ANNAPPA DUNDAPPA MAGADUM, AGED: 45 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 65. SMT. MALUTAI PRAKASH DARENNAVAR, AGED: 33 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 66. SMT. DEEPA MANJUNATH DARENNAVAR, AGED: 35 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 67. SMT. SHANTA CHANDRAKANT MARINAIK, - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 AGED: 40 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 68. SHRI. BHIMAPPA NINGAPPA CHOUGALA, AGED: 65 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 69. SHRI. PARAGOUDA ALAGOUDA PATIL, AGED: 61 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 70. SHRI. SHIVANING BASAPPA ARALIKATTI, AGED: 65 YRS., OCC: AGRICULTURE. 71. SHRI. GURUSIDDA DUNDAPPA PATIL, AGED: 45 YRS., OCC: AGRICULTURE. 72. SHRI. BASAGOUDA SHIVANING GHODAGERI, AGED: 65 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 73. SHRI. MALAGOUDA KADAPPA PATIL AGED: 50 YRS., OCC: AGRICULTURE 74. SHRI. BASAVARAJ SHIVAPUTRA MATHIWAD, AGED: 40 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 75. SHRI. DUNDAPPA BASAWANT KUMBAR, AGED: 51 YRS., OCC.: AGRICULTURE. 76. SHRI. MANGAL NINGOUDA KALAI, AGED: 55 YRS., OCC: AGRICULTURE. 77. SHRI. DAYANAND KALLAPPA MAGADUM, AGED: 49 YRS., OCC: AGRICULTURE. 78. SMT. BASAVVA NINGAPPA NAIK, AGED: 50 YRS., OCC: AGRICULTURE. ALL PETITIONERS ARE RESIDENTS OF: VILLAGE KOCHARI, TAL. HUKKERI, DIST. BELAGAVI – 591 340. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI ANAND KUMAR ASHTEKAR, ADVOCATE) - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS SECRETARY DEPT. OF CO-OPERATION, M. S. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001. 2. THE CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION COMMISSION KARNATAKA STATE ELECTION COMMISSION BASAVANGUDI, BANGALORE- 560 004. 3. DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER AND THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OP SOCIETIES, BELAGAVI DISTRICT, BELAGAVI- 590 001. 4. THE RETURNING OFFICER, PRATHAMIK KRUSHI PATTINA SAHAKARI SANGH NIYAMIT, KOCHARI, TALUKA HUKKERI, DIST. BELAGAVI – 591 340 5. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE / SECRETARY PRATHAMIK KRUSHI PATTINA SAHAKARI SANGH NIYAMIT, KOCHARI, TALUKA HUKKERI, DIST. BELAGAVI – 591 340 6. PRATHAMIK KRUSHI PATTINA SAHAKARI SANGH NIYAMIT, KOCHARI, TALUKA HUKKERI, DIST. BELAGAVI – 591 340 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1 AND R3; SRI G.V.BARAMAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R4; SRI YASG R. NADKARNI, ADVOCATE FOR R4 TO R6) 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 WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION QUASHING THE IMPUGNED FINAL ELIGIBLE LOANEE VOTERS LIST AS ON 14.12.2023 VIDE ANNEXURE-D OF THE PRATHAMIK KRUSHI PATTIN SAHAKARI SANGH NIYAMIT KOCHARI, TALUKA HUKKERI, DIST. BELAGAVI (BOTH PREPARED BY THE RESPONDENT NO. 5 TO THE EXTENT - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 FO WHICH THE NAMES OF THE PETITIONERS ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE FINAL ELIGIBLE LOANEE VOTERS LIST VIDE ANNEXURE-D AND INCLUDED IN THE INELIGIBLE LOANEE VOTERS LIST VIDE ANNEXURE-E AND ETC., THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: 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: - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 (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; (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 - 10 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 8.11.20211 does not meet these requirements. In fact, it is admitted 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 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. - 11 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 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 - 12 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 election 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 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. - 13 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 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. 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. - 14 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:979 WP No. 107563 of 2024 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 VNP/CT-ASC List No.: 1 Sl No.: 0