- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 107815 OF 2024 (CS-EL/M) BETWEEN: 1. PARAPPA RAMAPPA KARADAGI, AGE: 78, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN -581113. (SL.NO.1530) 2. SHANMUKHAPPA FAKKIRAPPA KURUVINSHETT, AGE: 78, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SI.NO.1531) 3. CHANDRAPPA VEERAPPA KARADAGI, AGE: 68, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN -581113. (SL.NO.1536) 4. CHANNAVVA W/O PARAPPA KARADAGI, AGE: 58, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TO: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1537) 5. NEELAPPA CHANNBASAPPA HUMBI, AGE: 68, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1539) 6. BASAVARAJ ADIVEPPA GOUDAPPANAVAR, AGE: 60, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 DIST- DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1545) 7. SHOBHA PANCHAPPA NAGASHETTI. AGE: 59, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1562) 8. MANJUNATH PANCHAPPA NAGASHETTI, AGE: 42, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SI.NO.1563) 9. MANJUNATH CHANDRAPPA KARADAGI. AGE: 37, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1565) 10. PRAKASH CHANDRAPPA KARDAGI, AGE: 36, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1566) 11. CHANNAPPA NAGAPPA YARGUPPI, AGE: 65, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1567) 12 ISHWARAPPA VEERAPPA KOSHTI, AGE: 50, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1572) 13. ISHWARAPPA VEERAPPA KOSHTI AGE: 50, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1574) 14. TIPPANNA IRAPPA GUDNAL, - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 AGE: 31, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN- 581113. (SL.NO.1577) 15. MADEVAPPA GANGAPPA GUDNAL, AGE: 30, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1578) 16. YALLAPPA VIRUPAKSHAPPA MALLAPUR, AGE: 29, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1579) 17. ASHOKREDDY GOVINDREDDY REDDER, AGE: 68, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1580) 18. SRI. BHARAMAPPA FAKKIRAPPA SOUNSHI, AGE: 51, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SI.NO.1535) 19. SRI. BUDDIVANTAPPA CHANNABASAPPA HUMBI, AGE: 61, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1538). 20. SRI. ISHWARAPPA BASAVANTAPPA MADIVALAR, AGE: 63, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SI.NO.1659) 21. SRI. SHANMUKHAPPA BASAPPA KUSUGAL, AGE: 84, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1660) - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 22. SRI.BASAPPA MAHADEVAPPA BADIGER, AGE: 66, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1664) 23. SRI. SHEKHRAPPA MAHADEVAPPA BADIGER, AGE: 61, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1665) 24. SRI. SHEKHREDDY BASAVREDDY MADAGUNAKI, AGE: 29, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN -581113. (SL.NO.1693) 25. SRI. SHIDDAPPA BASAVNNEPPA MADIVALAR, AGE: 42, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1701) 26. SMT. JAINUBI ALLASAB GODI, AGE: 64, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1707) 27. SRI. GIRISH CHENNAPPA MALLAPUR AGE: 48, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SI.NO.1710) 28. SRI. BASAVARAJ SHIVAPPA BINKADAKADDI, AGE: 45, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1729) 29. SRI. SHIVAPPA SHANMUKHAPPA BINKADAKADDI, AGE: 76, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113, - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 (SL.NO.1730) 30. SRI. SHIVAPPA CHANDRSHEKHARPPA KODLI AGE: 36, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O YAREBUDIHAL TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1739) 31. SRI. VEERAPPA SOMANNA YARAGUPPI, AGE: 47, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1754) 32. HONNAVVA BASAVARAJ MADLI, AGE: 42, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1757) 33. RAVI IRAPPA GUDNAL, AGE: 25, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST- DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1759) 34. ANAND IRAPPA GUDNAL, AGE: 22, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SI.NO.1760) 35. BASAVARAJ REVANSIDDAPPA KATTIMANI, AGE: 34, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1589) 36. HANUMANTAPPA GANGAPPA GUDNAL, AGE: 25, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SI.NO.1758) 37. THIPPANNA NINGAPPA YARAGUPPI, AGE:68, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 R/O. YAREBUDIHAL, TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN-581113. (SL.NO.1698) 38. HIDHASAB LALASAB HALLIYAL, AGE: 52, OCCU: AGRICULTURE, R/O. YAREBUDIHAL TQ: KUNDAGOL, DIST. DHARWAD, PIN -581113. (SL.NO.1705) …PETITIONERS (BY SRI G. N. NARASAMMANAVAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE KUNDAGOL PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVES AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK LTD., KUNDAGOL, DIST: DHARWAD, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, PIN-581113. 2. THE KUNDAGOL PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVES AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK LTD., KUNDAGOL, DIST: DHARWAD, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGER, PIN -581113. 3. THE RETURNING OFFICER, THE KUNDAGOL PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVES AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK LTD., KUNDGOL, DIST: DHARWAD, PIN -581113. 4. THE STATE OF KARNATAK, REPRESENED BY ITS SECRETARY THE DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, MS BUILDING, BENGALURU -560001. 5. THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION COMMISSION IIIRD FLOOR, "A" BLOCK, TTMC BUILDING, SHANTINAGAR, BENGALURU -560027, REPRESENTED BY ITS ELECTION COMMISSION. 6. THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR, CO. OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, DHARWAD- 590001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. G.V. BHARAMAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE FOR R3 AND R5, - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 SMT. KIRTHILATHA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R4 AND R6) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA IS PRAYING TO, ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT ORDER OR DIRECTION AND QUASH THE LIST OF INELIGIBLE MEMBERS PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-B DT. 9/12/2024, PERTAINING TO YAREBUDIHAL CONSTITUENCY ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT AS ILLEGAL AND ARBITRARY IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY, AND CONSEQUENTLY PERMIT THE PETITIONERS TO CAST VOTES IN ELECTION SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON 29/12/2024 TO RESPONDENT NO.1 BANK. ISSUE WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT ORDER OR DIRECTION DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO CONDUCT ELECTION OF THE FIRST RESPONDENT BANK AFTER FOLLOWING DUE PROCESS OF LAW IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDERS 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, - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 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; (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 - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 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 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, 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 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 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 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 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 - 11 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 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. 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 (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 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1624 WP No. 107815 of 2024 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/- List No.: 1 Sl No.: 117