- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 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. 108030 OF 2024 (CS-EL/M) BETWEEN: 1. SUNIL S/O RAGHUVEER GAONKAR AGED 34 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1721 2. NAGESH S/O RAMESH HULSAVAR AGED 41 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1566 3. ANIL S/O RAMESH HULSAVAR AGED 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1516 4. RAMESH PUNDALIK HULSAVAR AGED 66 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 448 5. JAYA SADA HULSAVAR AGED 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka Dharwad Bench Date: 2025.01.21 12:19:19 +0530 - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1573 6. LAXMI SHRAVAN GAONKAR AGED 29 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1858 7. PRAKASH S/O SHAMBA ACHARI AGED 64 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1056 8. SURESH S/O BALAGU AGER AGED 46 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1521 9. BHARATI JAYAPRAKASH GAONKAR AGED 64 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1419 10. SAROJA SUBRAY NAYAK AGED 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1391 11. VIMALA GANAPATI NAYAK AGED 64 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 797 12. SHANTARAM S/O NARAYAN NAYAK AGED 57 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 M NO: 666 13. MANJUNATH S/O SHAMBA ACHARI AGED 36 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1427 14. GOURISH S/O SANTU NAYAK AGED 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 994 15. MANJULA GANESH HULSAVAR AGED 44 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1572 16. SHANTI DAMODAR HULSAVAR AGED 46 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1552 17. JAYASHREE MADHUKAR NAYAK AGED 56 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 849 18. PRAMODHAR S/O SHANKAR AGER AGED 29 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1849 19. DURGAPPA S/O NAGAPPA MARATI AGED 68 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 701 20. SUSHEELA HANUMANT PATAGAR - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 AGED 68 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 758 21. DIVAKAR MANJU GOUDA AGED 58 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1317 22. RAMA S/O SUKRU NAIK AGED 57 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 725 23. VENKATRAMAN LAXMAN PATAGAR AGED 67 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 483 24. VIJAY S/O TIMMAPPA PATAGAR AGED 42 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1071 25. NETRAVATI LAXMAN PATAGAR AGED 58 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1405 26. LAXMAN S/O HOSABU PATAGAR AGED 64 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 735 27. GURURAJ NARAYAN NAYAK AGED 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 M NO: 1722 28. MAHABALESHWAR S/O SUBRAY BHAT AGED 55 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 839 29. GANAPATI S/O VISHNU HEGDE AGED 72 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 541 30. VISHWANATH S/O VISHNU HEGDE AGED 69 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 542 31. VISHNU S/O MAHABALESHWAR HEGDE AGED 81 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 12 32. KRISHNA S/O VISHNU HEGDE AGED 66 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 543 33. DAMODAR NARAYAN PATAGAR AGED 67 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1839 34. RAMA LAXMAN PATAGAR AGED 76 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 459 35. CHANDRASHEKAR RAMA PATAGAR - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 AGED 50 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1762 36. SUDHEER GANAPATI PATAGAR AGED 34 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1746 37. VISHNU S/O NARAYAN KHANDEKAR AGED 65 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1295 38. GANAPI TIMMANNA BANDEKAR AGED72 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 732 39. TIMMAPPA GONE GOUDA AGED 41 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-58134 M NO: 1003 40. ISHWAR TULUSU GOUDA AGED 43 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1861 41. VENKATRAMAN VISHNU HEGDE AGED 66 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 13 42. MADEVI SHIVARAM HEGDE AGED 68 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1225 43. RAGHAVENDRA HONNAPPA NAYAK AGED 40 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1096 44. HONNAPPA BOMMAYYA NAYAK AGED 66 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 387 45. DEVIDAS BOMMAYYA NAYAK AGED 67 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 592 46. SHIVU SHANKAR GOUDA AGED 47 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GUNDBALA, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1639 47. SHANKAR KANU GOUDA AGED 54 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GUNDBALA, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1795 48. HONNAPPA PANDU GOUDA AGED 50 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GUNDBALA, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO: 1473 49. SOMU HAMMU GOUDA AGED 64 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GUNDBALA, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1233 - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 50. HULIYAPPA NAGAPPA GOUDA AGED 60 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GUNDBALA, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1387 51. JAYASHREE RAVI (SOMU) GOUDA AGED 35 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1346 52. SOMU HAMMU GOUDA AGED 64 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GUNDBALA, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1233 53. GAJENDRA DEVU GOUDA AGED 30 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GUNDBALA, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1830 54. SHANKAR DEVU GOUDA AGED 53 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GUNDBALA, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1802 55. MANJU SOMU GOUDA AGED 56 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1800 56. SHRIKANT SOMU GOUDA AGED 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1344 57. JAYANT SOMU GOUDA AGED 39 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1345 58. JAGADISH VENKATRAMAN AGER AGED 38 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: GUNDBALA, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1541 59. VIJAY GANAPATI GOUDA AGED 36 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O: HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581344 M NO:1394 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. VISHWANATH HEGDE, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REP.BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION M.S.BUILDING, 6TH FLOOR, BENGALURU-560001 2. THE REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, NO.1, ALI-ASKAR ROAD, BENGALURU-560052 3. CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION AUTHORITY, 3RD 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 AND CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER,ANKOLA - 10 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 VIVIDODDESH PRATHAMIKA GRAMEEN KRUSHI SAHAKAR SANGH NIYAMITHA, HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581314 6. VIVIDODDESH PRATHAMIKA GRAMEEN KRUSHI SAHAKAR SANGH NIYAMITHA, HILLUR, TQ: ANKOLA DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581314 REP.BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. KIRTHILATA R.PATIL, HCGP FOR R1, R2, R4 & R5; SRI. S.B. PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R6) 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.4 MARKED AT ANNEXURE B IN SO FAR AS PETITIONERS ARE CONCERNED IN THE ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF 6TH RESPONDENT SOCIETY FOR THE TERM 2024 TO 2029 AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING: 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: - 11 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 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 - 12 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 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 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. 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:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 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, 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 - 14 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 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 respondents admit that there are deficiencies in finalization of Final Electoral List. The petitioners are admittedly not issued with individual notice as 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:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 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 consideration in appropriate proceedings, if commenced.” - 16 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:905 WP No. 108030 of 2024 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 Vnp / CT: ASC List No.: 3 Sl No.: 6