- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 108006 OF 2024 (CS-EL/M) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. FAKKIRGOUDA RAYANAGOUDA KENCHANAGOUDAR AGE:29 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O : CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG-582209 (SL. NO. 11) 2. HANAMANTGOUDA SANGANAGOUDA KENCHANAGOUDAR AGE: 28 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O : CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 12) 3. BALACHANDRAGOUDA SANGANAGOUDA KENCHANAGOUDAR AGE:52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O : CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 13) 4. RANGAPPA YAMANAPPA KURUBAGOUDRA AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O : CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 17) 5. BHIMAPPA SANGANABASAPPA KOPPAD AGE: 54 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O : CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 19) VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka Dharwad Bench Date: 2025.01.21 12:19:18 +0530 - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 of 2024 6. SUAVARANAVVA W/O MARUTI MADAR AGE: 40 YEARS, OCC: HOUSEHOLD, R/O : CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 21) 7 SHIVAAVVA W/O SHANKARAPPA MADAR AGE: 39 YEARS, OCC:HOUSEHOLD, R/O : CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 22) 8 BASAVVA @ BASAMMA W/O NINGAPPA MADAR AGE: 51 YEARS, OCC:HOUSEHOLD, R/O : CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 23) 9 RONAVVA W/O SIDAPPA MADAR AGE:36YEARS,OCC:HOUSEHOLD, R/O:CHIKKAMANNURTQ:RON, DIST: GADAG582209 (SL. NO. 24) 10 NINAGAPPA SIDAPPA MADAR AGE: 32 YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O : CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 25) 11 SHANMUKKAPPA PARAPPA GARAWAD AGE 33YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O : MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 26) 12 KALLAPPA YANKAPPA CHALWADI AGE:36 YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 27) 13 BASAVARAJ LAKSHMAPPA KANAKI AGE:31YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 28) - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 of 2024 14 BHEEMAPPA LAKSHMAPPA KANAKI AGE:33YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 29) 15 VEERANNA LAKSHMAPPA KANAKI AGE:32YEARS, OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 30) 16 HANAMANTHGOUDA BHARAMAGOUDAR AGE:41YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 32) 17 HANAMAPPA RAMAPPA CHALWADI AGE:52YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 33) 18 MAHESHWAR KODDAYYA HIREMATH AGE:75YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 35) 19 NAGANAGOUDA GURAPADAGOUDA PATIL AGE:65YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 36) 20 GURASANGAPPA ANDAPPA KAMBI AGE:52YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 37) 21 VEERAPPA SANGAPPA UGALATADA AGE:33YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 38) - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 of 2024 22 BHEEMANGOUDA VEERANAGOUDA HIREGOUDAR AGE:40YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MALLAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 39) 23 RAMANAGOUDA IRAPPAGOUDA CHANAPPAGOUDAR AGE:32YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :MUDENAGUDI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 45) 24 HANUMANTHGOUDA MAHADEVAGOUDA HULLUR AGE:20YEARS, OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :SANDIGAWAD TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 47) 25 CHANNAPAGOUDA SHANKARGOUDA PATIL AGE:36YEARS,OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :SANDIGAWAD TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 48) 26 SANGANABASAPPA HANAMAPPA BELAHARA AGE:40YEARS, OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :SANDIGAWAD TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 49) 27 VEERUPAKSHAGOUDA PARVATAGOUDA PATIL AGE:42YEARS, OCC:AGRICULTURE, R/O :SANDIGAWAD TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 50) 28 SUBHADRA W/O GURAPPA GEDAGERI AGE: 29 YEARS, OCC:HOUSEHOLD, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 51) 29 SHARANAPPA SANGAPPA KATTI AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 53) - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 of 2024 30 MAHAMMADALI KARIMSHAB NADAF AGE: 34 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 54) 31 BANAGOUDA TAMMANAGOUDA CHIKKANAGOUDA AGE: 51 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 55) 32 GANGAVVA VEERUPASHAPPA ABBIGERI AGE: 40YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 56) 33 SANGAPPA VEERAPPA PAVADASHETTI AGE: 29 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 57) 34 YASHODAR SANNASANGAPPA SAJJANARA AGE: 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 58) 35 ASHOK VEERAPPA GADAG AGE: 40 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 62) 36 IRAVVA W/O SHEKAPPA ABBIGERI AGE: 24 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 66) 37 AMARESH @ AMARAPPA ADAPPA ABBIGERI AGE: YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 67) - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 of 2024 38 RENAVVA W/O SHARANAPPA NAVALGUND AGE: 51 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 68) 39 RUDRAGOUDA SHEKARAGOUDA CHIKKANAGOUDRA AGE: 24 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 69) 40 PALAKSHAGOUDA SHEKARAGOUDA CHIKKANAGOUDA AGE: 25 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 70) 41 HUCHIRAPPA PRABUDEVAPPA APPANNAVAR AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 71) 42 PRAKASH PRABUDEV AVVANNAVAR AGE: 31 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 72) 43 SHANKARAPPA PARAPPA GARAVADA AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 73) 44 BASAVARAJ SANGAPPA SARAPAD AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 74) 45 MUNESWARA SANGANABASAPPA NAREGAL AGE: 24 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 75) - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 of 2024 46 SHARANAYYA GODACAYYA GANACHARI AGE: 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 76) 47 SANGAPPA LOKAPPA SHIRABADAGI AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 77) 48 MAHADEVAPPA LOKAPPA SHIRABADAGI AGE: 42 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 78) 49 MALLIKARJUNAGOUDA RAYANAGOUDA PATIL AGE: 28 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 79) 50 KUDLEPPA SANGANABASAPPA PAVADISHETTI AGE: 39 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 83) 51 BASAVARAJ MALLIKARJUNAPPA JOGAREDDI AGE: 40 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 84) 52 SANGAPPA ANDANAPPA ABBIGERI AGE: 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 87) 53 NINGAPPA SANGAPPA PAVADISHETTI AGE: 33 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 92) - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 of 2024 54 SANGAPPA BASAPPA MANGALURU AGE: 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 94) 55 SANNIMALLAPPA SHIVASANGAPPA NAREGALLA AGE: 78 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 96) 56 CHANDRAGOUDA GOUDAPPAGOUDA CHIKKANAGOUDA AGE: 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :SAVADI TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 98) 57 YALLAPPA SANGAPPA HANASHI AGE: 30 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :HIREMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 101) 58 SHARANAPPA VEERAPPA KULKARNI AGE: 58 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :HONNAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 107) 59 SHIVANAGOUDA BASALINGANAGOUDA PATIL AGE: 36 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :HONNAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 110) 60 BASAPPA SHEKAPPA HULAGURA AGE: 29 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :HONNAPURA TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 116) 61 JAMMAPPA SHIVALINGAPPA JAMMANNAVAR AGE: 43 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O :CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 9) - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 of 2024 62 BASANAGOUDA SANGANAGOUDA KENCHANAGOUDRA AGE: 37 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O : CHIKKAMANNUR TQ: RON, DIST: GADAG 582209 (SL. NO. 10) …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. R H ANGADI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK LTD.,RON,DIST: GADAG, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGER-582209 2. THE PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK LTD.,RON,DIST: GADAG, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY-582209 3. THE RETURNING OFFICER, AND CO OPERATIVE OFFICER THE PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK LTD., RON, DIST: GADAG,- 582209 4. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, REPRESENTED BY IT’S SECRETARY, THE DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, MS BUILDING, BENGALURU- 560001 5. THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION COMMISSION, IIIRD FLOOR, “A” BLOCK, TTMC BUILDING, SHANTHI NAGAR, BENGALURU-560027, REPRESENTED BY IT’S ELECTION COMMISSION. 6. THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR CO.OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, BELAGAVI-590001 …RESPONDENT (BY SMT. KIRTILATA R.PATIL, HCGP FOR R4 AND 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, ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER AND QUASH THE LIST OF INELIGIBLE VOTERS LIST PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-C, DT 17/12/2024, ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT IN SO FOR AS PETITIONERS ARE CONCERNED AS ILLEGAL AND ARBITRARY AND CONSEQUENTLY PERMIT THE - 10 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 of 2024 PETITIONERS TO COST THEIR VOTES IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY & ETC., THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THERIN 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: - 11 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 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 - 12 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:803 WP No. 108006 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:803 WP No. 108006 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:803 WP No. 108006 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:803 WP No. 108006 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:803 WP No. 108006 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.: 66