- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26076 WP No. 18431 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN WRIT PETITION NO.18431 OF 2023 (CS-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SRI NINGESH R S/O LATE RAMSANJEEVAIAH, AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS, 2. SRI. MAHALINGU S/O NINGE GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, 3. SMT. RUKMINI W/O LINGARAJU, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, 4. SRI NAGESHA B S/O BOREGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, ALL ARE DIRECTORS THAGACHAGERE MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, THAGACHAGERE, KASABA HOBLI, CHANNAPATNA TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-562 160. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. NANDISH R.,ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by V MANJUSHA BAI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26076 WP No. 18431 of 2023 AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, REP BY ITS SECRETARY, M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ALI ASKER ROAD, BENGALURU-560052. 3. THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (INDUSTRY AND DAIRY) ALI ASKER ROAD, BENGALURU-560052. 4. THE JOINT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES BENGALURU ZONE, MARGOSA ROAD, MALLESHWARA, BENGALURU-560003. 5. THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES D.C. OFFICE BUILDING, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-562159. 6. THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES RAMANAGARA SUB-DIVISION, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-562159. 7. M/S. THAGACHAGERE MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26076 WP No. 18431 of 2023 A MILK DAIRY INCORPORATED UNDER KARNATAKA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY REGISTRATION ACT, 1960 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (I/C) SRI. T.S. KUMARA, S/O JAVAREGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, THAGACHAGERE, KASABA HOBLI, CHANNAPATNA TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-562160. 8. THE RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER THAGACHAGERE MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, SRI. RAJA, S/O RAMEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, THAGACHAGERE, KASABA HOBLI, CHANNAPATNA TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-562160. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. YOGESH D. NAIK, AGA FOR R.1 TO R.6; SRI. SARAVANA S., ADVOCATE FOR R.7 AND R.8.) - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26076 WP No. 18431 of 2023 THIS PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE DIRECT RECRUITMENT NOTIFICATION POST OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THAGACHAGERE MILK PRODUCERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY PUBLISHED DATED 11.07.2023 PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A, ETC. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING/VIDEO CONFERENCING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN ORAL ORDER 1. The writ petition is filed with the following prayers:- "a) Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other writ/s or direction or order quashing the direct recruitment notification post of Chief Executive Officer, Thagachagere Milk Producers co-operative Society published dated 11.07.2023 produced at Annexure- A. b) Pass such any other order or relief as this Hon'ble court deems fit under the facts and circumstances - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26076 WP No. 18431 of 2023 of the case, to serve the interest of justice and equity." 2. Section 70(2)(d) of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959 reads as under:- "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) x x x (b) x x x (c) x x x (d) x x x (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) x x x (b) x x x (c) x x x (d) any dispute between a co-operative society and its employees or past - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:26076 WP No. 18431 of 2023 employees or heirs or legal representatives of a deceased employee, including a dispute regarding the terms of employment, working conditions and disciplinary action taken by a co- operative society notwithstanding anything contrary contained in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (Central Act 14 of 1947)." 3. It is further submitted by the respondents that the petitioners have already availed the remedy available under Section 70 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959 by raising a dispute on the very same cause of action. 4. In the light of the same, the writ petition is hereby dismissed reserving liberty to the petitioners to avail the remedy available to them under Section 70 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959 in accordance with law. Sd/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE VMB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 49