- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF JANUARY 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 100318 OF 2026 (CS-EL/M) BETWEEN: 1] NARASIMHA MAHABALESHWAR HEGDE AGE: 87 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O. HONNEHADDA, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 4 2] ANANT PARAMESHWAR HEGDE AGE: 78 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KARKISAVAL, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 5 3] CHANDRIKA W/O GOPALKRISHNA HEGDE AGE: 69 YEARS, OCC :HOUSSEWIFE , R/O. :HARSIMANE, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 18 4] KRISHNA DYAVA MADIVAL AGE: 81 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KANCHIMANE, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355, MEMBERSHIP NO. 25 5] MANJUNATH TIMMAPPA HEGDE AGE: 79 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :MUTHALLI, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355, MEMBERSHIP NO. 165 6] GANAPATHI NARAYAN HEGDE AGE: 68 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HOSAKOPPA, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 168 GIRIJA A. BYAHATTI Digitally signed by GIRIJA A. BYAHATTI Date: 2026.01.22 15:27:08 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 7] GANAPATHI GAJANAN BHAT AGE: 66 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :MELINHIREKAI, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 200. 8] MANJUNATH PUTTA NAIK AGE: 71 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HALASAGARA, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 271 9] GOPALKRISHNA RAMACHANDRA HEGDE AGE: 74 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HARSHIMANE, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 317 10] BALAKRISHNA SUBRAYA BHAT AGE: 60 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HUTGAR, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 389 11] PARAMESHWAR HARIPPA NAIK AGE: 67 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HUBBAGAI, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 436 12] GOPALKRISHNA PARAMESHWAR HEGDE AGE: 75 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KARKISAVAL, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 159 13] VENKATESH MARYA NAIK AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HASANAGI, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 454 14] MAHABALESHWAR TIMMA GOUDA AGE:65 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 R/O. :KALLABBE, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 502 15] KRISHNAPPA HARIYAPPA NAIK AGE: 69 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HUBBAGAI, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO.505 16] MANJUNATH KERIYA NAIK AGE: 56 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HASANAGI, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 550 17] DATTATRYA GANGADHAR HEGDE AGE: 58 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :URATOTA, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 593 18] RAJARAM RAMACHANDRA HEGDE AGE: 81 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HONNEHADDA, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 600 19] MANJUNATH KRISHNAPPA HEGDE AGE: 64 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KARKISAVLU, TALUK SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 604 20] KENCHA PAYA NAIK AGE: 75 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :ATTIKOPPA, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 621 21] GANAPATI HANUMANTH NAIK AGE: 76 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HUBBAGAI, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 625. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 22] TIMAPPA NAGAPPA HEGDE AGE: 79 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HONNEHADDA, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 632 23] RAMA LAXMANA GOUDA AGE: 76 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KAVALAKOPPA, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 658 24. GANAPI MALA GOUDA AGE: 71 YEARS, OCC : HOUSEWIFE, R/O. :HARSIMANE, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 666 25] PADMANABHA RAMACHANDRA HEGDE AGE: 54 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HEENAGAR, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 724 26] RAMA GIDDA GOUDA AGE: 63 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HOSAKOPPA, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 726 27] YAMUNA W/O MANJUNATHMADIWAL AGE: 54 YEARS, OCC : HOUSEWIFE & AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KANCHIMANE, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 751 28] RAGHUPATI SUBRAYA BHAT AGE: 68 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :GODAVEMANE, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 782 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 29] MAMATA W/O ASHOK HEGDE AGE: 53 YEARS, OCC : HOUSEWIFE, R/O. :CHIKKA-ARSINAGODU TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 923 30] VINAY ASHOK HEGDE AGE: 31 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :CHIKKARIAHINGOD, HARSIKATTA, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 924 31] RAMA LAXMAN NAIK AGE: 73 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :SAMPAGOD, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 928 32] BHASKAR DEVARU HEGDE AGE: 75 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :URATOTA, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 959 33] VEERABHADRA KANNA NAIK AGE: 64 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HASANAGI, GOLGOD, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 967 34] PADMANABHA KARIYA MADIWAL AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HARSIKATTA, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 988 35] RAMAKRISHNA VEERABHADRA NAIK AGE: 63 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :BALEGADDE, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 1002 - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 36] GANGA W/O ANNAPPA NAIK AGE: 42 YEARS, OCC : HOUSEWIFE, R/O. :SAMPAGOD, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 1003 37] VIMALESHWAR KANAPPA NAIK AGE: 56 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :GONTANALA, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 1009 38] SHIDHAR KARIYA MADIVAL AGE: 53 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :TONDEMADKE, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 1024 39] RAVI SUBRAY HEGDE AGE: 54 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HARSHIMANE, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 1096 40] GANAPATI SUBRAYA HEGDE AGE: 59 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HARSHIMANE, HARSIKATTA, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 1097 41] CHANDRASHEKAR TIMMA MADIVAL AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC :AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KANCHIMANE, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 1101 42] SHANTARAM TIMMA MADIVAL AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KANCHIMANE, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 1109 - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 43] ACHYUTA KANNA GOUDA AGE: 43 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KALMANE, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 1131 44] MAMATA GANGADHAR HEGDE AGE: 52 YEARS, OCC : HOUSEWIFE & AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KANCHIMANE, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 1155 45. GANAPATHI SHIVARAM HEGDE AGE: 74 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :MUTTALLI, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 192 46. UMAKANTH MANJUNATH HEGDE AGE:58 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HIEENAGAR, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581355. MEMBERSHIP NO. 335. 47] GANAPATHI RAMACHANDRA HEGDE AGE: 69 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KARAKISAVALU, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 365 48] SHANKARNARAYAN RAMACHANDRA HEGDE AGE: 61 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :KUMBARKULI, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO.422 49] KAMALAKAR HARIYAPPA NAIK AGE: 60 YEARS, OCC : AGRICULTURE, R/O. :HUBBAGAI, TALUK : SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 425 - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 50] DATTATRAYYA VENKATRAMAN BHAT AGE: 56 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O.: SAMPAGOL, TALUK: SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 555 51] GANAPATHI RAMA NAIK AGE: 71 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O.: SAMPAGOL, TALUK: SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 719 52] SATYANARAYAN MANJUNATH BHAT AGE: 55 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O.: SAMPAGOL, TALUK: SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581340. MEMBERSHIP NO. 917 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. VINAYAKA R. BHAT, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, M.S. BUILDING, VIKASA SOUDHA, DR.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY 2. THE CO-OP ELECTION COMMISSION, KARNATAKA STATE ELECTION COMMISSION BASAVANGUDI, BANGLORE-560001. 3. THE DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER, AND THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OP SOCIETIES, UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT, UTTARA KANNADA-01. 4. THE RETURNING OFFICER, VYAVASAYA SEVASAHAKARI SANGH NIYAMITA, SIDDAPUR, TALUK: SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTAR KANNADA – 581329. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 5. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, VYAVASAYA SEVASAHAKARI SANGH NIYAMITA, HARSIKATTA, TALUK: SIDDAPUR, DIST: UTTAR KANNADA – 581355. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ASHOK T.KATTIMANI, AGA FOR R1 TO R4; SRI. MALLIKARJUNSWAMY B.HIREMATH, ADVOCATE FOR R5 -- 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 AND QUASH THE IMPUGNED FINAL INELIGIBLE VOTERES LIST PREPARED BY THE 5TH RESPONDENT DATED 29.12.2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-B AND C ARE ILLEGAL, ARBITRARY AND CONTRARY TO THE KARNATAKA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES AMENDED RULES, 2013; CONSEQUENTLY, ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.3, 4 AND 5 TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE PETITIONERS IN THE FINAL ELIGIBLE VOTER LIST OF VYAVASAYA SEVA SAHAKARI SANGH NIYAMITA HARSIKATTA, SIDDAPUR AND PERMIT THE PETITIONERS TO PARTICIPATE AND CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE ENSUING ELECTION OF THE 5TH RESPONDENT SOCIETY SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON 18/01/2026 AND ETC. THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioners, who are members of respondent No.5 Vyavasaya Seva Sahakari Sangh Niyamita, have invoked the writ jurisdiction of this Court assailing the Final Borrowers Disqualified Members voters’ list prepared by respondent No.5 dated 29.12.2025, in respect of the election scheduled to be held on 18.01.2026. 2. The grievance of the petitioners is with regard to their exclusion from the voters’ list on the ground of ineligibility and the alleged non-compliance with the procedure prescribed under Rule 13-B of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Rules, 1960. 3. Learned counsel appearing for respondent No.5 submits that the dispute pertains to the eligibility of members and preparation of the voters’ list, for which an efficacious alternative remedy is available under Section 70 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 Act, 1959 (‘the Act’, for short). Therefore, the present writ petition is not maintainable. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, learned AGA for respondent Nos.1 to 4 and learned counsel for respondent No.5. Perused the records. 5. This Court has carefully considered the submissions. The disputes relating to the inclusion or exclusion of names in the voters’ list of a co-operative society squarely fall within the ambit of Section 70 of the Act, which provides for resolution of disputes touching the constitution, management, or business of a co- operative society. The writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is to be exercised only in exceptional cases involving manifest illegality or gross miscarriage of justice. 6. In the present case, the petitioners have not made out any exceptional circumstances warranting interference by this Court. The grievance raised relates to the - 12 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:444 WP No. 100318 of 2026 validity of the voters’ list, which is amenable to adjudication under the statutory remedy provided under Section 70 of the Act. 7. In view of the availability of an efficacious alternative remedy, the writ petition is not maintainable. 8. Accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed as not maintainable. Sd/- JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA gab Ct:VH List No.: 2 Sl No.: 2