- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO.107715 OF 2024 (CS-EL/M) BETWEEN: 1. PARVATI MOHAN PATIL AGED 54 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: DANDELI HASANAMALA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1973 2. JYOTIBA MOHAN PATIL AGED 33 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: DANDELI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1840 3. GOUSMOHIDDIN S/O. ABDULKARIM KHATEEB AGED 69 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: DANDELI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 910 4. ASHOK S/O NARAYAN PARAB AGED 50 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: AMBEVADI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO:603 5. KULDEEP S/O MANAPPA RAJAPOOT AGED 39 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: DANDELI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1635 6. MALLAPPA S/O BHEEMAPPA THORAVAT AGED 63 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: MAVALANGI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 M NO: 1820 7. VENKAPPA S/O RAMA KALAKUNDRI AGED 39 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KONDAPA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 2102 8. RAMA S/O RANU KALAKUNDRI AGED 66 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KONDAPA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1826 9. VASANT S/O KASHEPPA KALAKUNDRI AGED 66 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KONDAPA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1810 10. MALA MARUTI TORAT AGED 65 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KONDAPA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 2108 11. PRAKASH S/O BAVAKU SAVANT AGED 47 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: VITNALA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1581 12. GURUSHANTAMMA ISHWARAPPA AGED 78 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: VITNALA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 421 13. SANDEEP S/O MANAPPA RAJAPUT AGED 37 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: DANDELI GANESHNAGARA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1927 14. HARI S/O DEVAPPA CHIKKALAKAR AGED 66 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 R/O: VITNALA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1652 15. GANAPATI S/O DEVAPPA CHIKKALAKAR AGED 50 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: VITNALA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1653 16. CHANDRAKANT S/O DEVAPPA CHIKKALAKAR AGED 60 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: VITNALA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1651 17. MAHMADUSMAN S/O MAHAMMADSAB SHAIK AGED 66 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: BADAKANASHIRDA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1794 18. BALAKRISHNA S/O BAVAKU SAVANT AGED 47 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: VITNALA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1582 19. MANJUNATH S/O MALLESHAPPA BELLIGATTI AGED 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: DANDELI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1965 20. SURYAKANT S/O HEMANNA KALASEKAR AGED 39 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O:BADAKANSHIRDA , TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1413 [PETITIONERS NO. 1 TO 20 VOTING FOR WARD NO.1] 21. VINIT HAVARD FEDRIK MABIN AGED 56 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GOBRALA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 M NO: 1017 22. NETAJI S/O BABURAO JADHAV AGED 47 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HAREGALI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1929 23. RAMA S/O LAXMANA SHEDI AGED 54 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALUR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1594 24. RADHA S/O ISHWAR DIGGEKAR AGED 42 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KERAVADA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 2003 25. PANDURANG S/O. MAHADEV KADAM AGED 68 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KERAVADA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1928 26. RUKMINI VITHOBA OVALAKAR AGED 72 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KERAVADA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1910 27. SOMANNA S/O. VITHOBA OVALAKAR AGED 40 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KERAVADA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1912 28. KHEMANNA S/O. VITHOBA OVALAKAR AGED 46 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KERAVADA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1913 29. NAMADEV S/O VITHOBA OVALKAR AGED 47 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 R/O: DANDELI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1911 30. SONU S/O GHATU KOKARE AGED 59 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KERAVADA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 2004 31. HENIT S/O. SANNI MABEN AGED 66 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GOBRALA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1018 32. LAXMI JOTIBA BODEKAR AGED 67 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HAREGALI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1739 33. INJU DHONDU JANGALE AGED 53 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HAREGALI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1642 34. SIDDULI S/O. KALLAPPA APPUGOLA AGED 78 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HAREGALI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 554 35. IZAZ S/O. NAZEER HUSSAIN AGED 44 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HAREGALI, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1607 36. PRAKASH S/O NARAYAN PISALI AGED 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALUR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1106 - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 37. KUMAR S/O LAXMAN VATLEKAR AGED 44 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALOOR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1366 38. PRABHAKAR S/O. LAXMAN PARIGOWDA AGED 47 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALUR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1499 39. SURESH S/O TIRAKAPPA SOORYAVAMSHI AGED 46 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALUR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1667 40. GANAPATI S/O MAHADEV VATLEKAR AGED 43 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALUR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1649 41. LAXMI PARASHURAM PISALI AGED 53 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALUR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1867 42. PARVATI KEDARI SHEDI AGED 54 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALOOR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1920 43. RAMESH S/O. KEDARI SHEDI AGED 41 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALOOR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1921 44. ARJUN S/O. DHANAPPA VATLEKAR AGED 69 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALUR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 M NO: 384 45. KRISHNA S/O. DHANAPPA VATLEKAR AGED 72 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALUR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 503 46. PARASHURAM S/O. VITHAL CHOUTHE AGED 58 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALOOR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1943 47. PUNNAPPA S/O. VITTAL CHOUTHE AGED 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALOOR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1941 48. RAJU S/O. TIRAKAPPA SOORYAVAMSHI AGED 44 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALUR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1663 49. SOMASHEKHAR S/O. RUDRAPPA ANDAKAR AGED 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: TATAGERA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1793 50. LAXMAN S/O. PARASHURAM KUKADOLLI AGED 55 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: TATAGERA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1513 51. BHARAMANI HANAMANT KADAM AGED 58 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: TATAGERA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1515 52. MARUTI S/O NINGAPPA PATIL - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 AGED 66 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: TATAGERA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1676 53. MALLAVVA BASAVANNI HARIJAN AGED 68 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALOOR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1418 54. SHARADA DEVENDRAPPA HAMMASAGARSHETTAR AGED 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KERAVADA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 2005 55. SHIVARAM S/O. APPAJI PATIL AGED 67 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: KERAVADA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 781 56. TEENA KENIT MABIN AGED 51 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GOBRALA, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1675 57. MAHADEVI HANMANTAPPA BELLIKATTI AGED 67 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: ALOOR, TQ: DANDELI DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 M NO: 1664 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI VISHWANATH HEGDE, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REP.BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION M.S.BUILDING, 6 TH FLOOR, BENGALURU-560001 - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 2. THE REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, NO.1, ALI-ASKAR ROAD, BENGALURU-560052 3. CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION AUTHORITY, 3 RD FLOOR, SHANTINAGAR, T.T.M.C, “A” BLOCK, SHANTINAGAR, BENGALURU-560027 REP.BY ITS SECRETARY, 4. DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION OFFICER AND DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES UTTARA KANNADA, KARWAR DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581301 5. RETURNING OFFICER, DANDELAPPA VIVIDODDESH PRATHAMIKA GRAMEEN KRUSHI SAHAKAR SANGH NIYAMITHA, DANDELI, AND PANCHAYAT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, GRAM PANCHAYAT ALUR, TQ: DANDELI, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 6. DANDELAPPA VIVIDODDESH PRATHAMIKA GRAMEEN KRUSHI SAHAKAR SANGH NIYAMITHA, DANDELI, TQ: DANDELI, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581325 REP.BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1, R2 AND R4; SRI G.V.BHARAMAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE FOR R3 AND R5; NOTICE TO R6 IS SERVED) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO, ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE FINAL INELIGIBLE VOTERS LIST ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.6 MARKED AT ANNEXURE-B INSOFAR AS PETITIONERS ARE CONCERNED IN THE ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF 6TH RESPONDENT SOCIETY FOR THE TERM 2024 TO 2029. ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO CONDUCT THE ELECTION TO THE 6TH RESPONDENT SOCIETY FOR THE TERM 2024-2029 SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON 28-12-2024, PERMITTING THE PETITIONERS 1 TO 20 TO CAST THEIR VOTE IN WARD NO.1 (ANNEXURE-C) AND PETITIONERS NO. 21 5O 57 - 10 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 (ANNEXURE-D) TO CAST THEIR VOTE IN WARD NO.2 IN THE ELECTION PROCESS IN TERMS OF ANNEXURE-A AND ETC., THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING ‘B’ GROUP, 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: (3) The Election Officer shall take steps for publication - 11 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 of 2024 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 - 12 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 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. - 13 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 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 - 14 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 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. - 15 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 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. - 16 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1119 WP No. 107715 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 NAA/CT-ASC List No.: 1 Sl No.: 141