[Cites 7, Cited by 0]
Karnataka High Court
Anant Rama Naik vs The State Of Karnataka on 30 December, 2025
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WP No. 110116 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD
DATED THIS THE 30TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R.NATARAJ
WRIT PETITION NO.110116 OF 2025 (CS-EL/M)
BETWEEN:
1. ANANT RAMA NAIK
AGE: 64 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1913, AT: GOLGODU
2. KAMALA TIMMA NAIK
AGE: 63 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1919, AT: GOLGODU
3. CHANDRASHEKHAR MUTTA NAIK
AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1930, AT: KALLURU
4. ANNAPPA TIMMAGONDA
AGE: 32 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1938, AT: HAREKOPPA
5. SHASHIKALA GANAPATI BACHHIMANE
CHANDRASHEKAR
LAXMAN
KATTIMANI
AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
Digitally signed by
CHANDRASHEKAR
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1945, AT: HITTALKOPPA
LAXMAN KATTIMANI
Location: High Court of
Karnataka, Dharwad Bench
Date: 2025.12.30 16:57:32
+0530
6. VINODA VENKATESH ACHEDIMBA
AGE: 49 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1981, AT: HITTALKOPPA
7. DEVAKI MANJUNATH HARIJAN
AGE: 39 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2048, AT: KAVANCHURU
8. JYOTI P NAIK
AGE: 41 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2067, AT: KAVANCHURU
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9. KAMALA TIMMA NAIK
AGE: 63 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1919, AT: GOLGODU
10. MAHALAXMI MAHABALESHWAR NAIK
AGE: 57 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2068, AT: GOLGODU
11. JAYA NARAYAN MADIWALA
AGE: 54 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2086, AT: ARENDURU
12. SHRI KENNE BALACHANDRA VOKKALIGA
AGE: 40 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2089, AT: HAREKOPPA
13. MANJA IRA NAIK
AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2103, AT: ARENDURU
14. RENUKA BACCHIMANE
AGE: 65 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2129, AT: HITTALKOPPA
15. NETRAVATI MANJUNATH NAIK
AGE: 51 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2130, AT: KAVACHUR
16. MOHINI RAJU VOKKALIGA
AGE: 42 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2138, AT: ARENDURU
17. MANJUNATH BANGARYA NAIK
AGE: 25 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2191, AT: ARENDURU
18. PAVITRA PRADEEP NAIK
AGE: 47 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1595, AT: ARENDURU
19. LAKSHMI VEERBHADRA VOKKALIGA
AGE: 73 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 2321, AT: GOLGODU
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20. BHOOTRAMA HARIJANA
AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1373, AT: KAVANCHURU
21. GANAPATI IRA NAIK
AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1376, AT: KALLURU
22. KERIYAPPA DURGA MADIWALA
AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1380, AT: HAREKOPPA
23. VIJIYA IRA KATTEMANE
AGE: 42 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1389, AT: HITTALKOPPA
24. KRISHNA VENKATRAMANA BACCHIMANE
AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1390, AT: HITTALKOPPA
25. MAHESH MANJUNATH ADEMANE
AGE: 42 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1392, AT: HITTALKOPPA
26. PRAKASH MURTHY
AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1399, AT: HITTALAKOPPA
27. VEERBHADRA HANUMANTH GONDA
AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1402, AT: HAREKOPPA
28. BEERA BHARAMAGONDA
AGE: 47 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1403, AT: HAREKOPPA
29. HANUMANTH BASAVA NAIK
AGE: 47 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1430, AT: KAVANCHURU
30. LAKSHMI MOHAN BOVI
AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1503, AT: KAVANCHURU
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31. SUSHEELA JANARDHAN MADIWALA
AGE: 55 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1705, AT: HITTALKOPPA
32. JAYALAKSHMI SHIVANAND BACCHIMANE
AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1714, AT: HITTALKOPPA
33. SHAILA NAGARAJ HARGI
AGE: 47 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1716, AT: HITTALKOPPA
34. PADMAVATI BIN RAJU KATTEMANE
AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1717, AT: HITTALKOPPA
35. NAGAVENI ANANT BHOVI
AGE: 49 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1720, AT: KAVANCHURU
36. SAROJA KERIYAPPA MADIWALA
AGE: 47 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1723, AT: HAREKOPPA
37. RAMACHANDRA DURGA MADIWALA
AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1725, AT: HAREKOPPA
38. KUMAR GUTYA MADIWALA
AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1726, AT: HAREKOPPA
39. MAHABALESHWAR RAMAGONDA
AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1727, AT: HAREKOPPA
40. CHANDRAKALA UDAY MADIWALA
AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1731, AT: HAREKOPPA
41. VEERBHADRA CHOUDA MADIWALA
AGE: 49 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1787, AT: HITTALKOPPA
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42. VENKATESH BASAVARAJ MADIWLA
AGE: 36 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1854, AT: HITTALKOPPA
43. IRAMMA ANNAPPA HARIJAN
AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1890, AT: KAVANCHURU
44. JATYA BOMMA GONDA
AGE: 76 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 618, AT: HAREKOPPA
45. BANGARYA JATYA GONDA
AGE: 75 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 672, AT: HAREKOPPA
46. NARAYAN NAGA NAIK
AGE: 58 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 787, AT: GOLGODU
47. BOMMI KOM RAMAGONDA
AGE: 86 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 795, AT: AKKUNJI
48. BUTI KOM IRAGONDA
AGE: 58 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1150, AT: GATAGADI
49. KAMALAKAR BILIYA NAIK
AGE: 69 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1152, AT: GOLGODU
50. GOURAMMA NAGARAJ ACHADIMBA
AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1174, AT: HITTALKOPPA
51. GANGADHAR BALINDR MADIWALA
AGE: 65 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1179, AT: HITTALKOPPA
52. SATYAVATI GANAPATI KATTIMANE
AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1188, AT: HITTALKOPPA
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53. SHIVANAND DYAVA BACCHIMANE
AGE: 58 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1191, AT: HITTALKOPPA
54. GANAPATI KERIYA BACCHIMANE
AGE: 58 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1243, AT: GOLGODU
55. NAGAPPA SHANKAR BACCHIMANE
AGE: 54 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1252, AT: HITTALKOPPA
56. IRA KERIYA VOKKALIGA
AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1258, AT: ARENDURU
57. RAGHAVENDRA GANAPATI MADIWALA
AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1266, AT: HITTALKOPPA
58. HEMAVATI SHIVANAND ACHYADIMBA
AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1343, AT: HITTALKOPPA
59. SADANAND SUBBA HARIJANA
AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1356, AT: KAVANCHURU
60. CHOUDA HIRA HARIJANA
AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1357, AT: KAVANCHURU
61. RAVI IRA HARIJANA
AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1358, AT: KAVANCHURU
62. MANJA NAGA HARIJANA
AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1359, AT: KAVANCHURU
63. GANAPATI SHIVA HARIJANA
AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1360, AT: KAVANCHURU
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64. GUTYA IRA HARIJANA
AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1364, AT: KAVANCHURU
65. ANNYAPPA BUTA HARIJANA
AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1365, AT: KAVANCHURU
66. NAGARAJ ISHWAR HARIJANA
AGE: 49 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1370, AT: KAVANCHURU
67. ISHWAR DURGA HARIJANA
AGE: 47 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1371, AT: KAVANCHURU
68. GUTYA GIDDA HARIJANA
AGE: 44 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1372, AT: KAVANCHURU
69. TIMMA BALINDRA MADIWALA
AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1396, AT: HITTALAKOPPA
70. GANAPATI IRA KATTEMANE
AGE: 60 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1249, AT: HITTALAKOPPA
71. YASHODHA MAHALINGA VAGA
AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC.: AGRICULTURIST
MEMBERSHIP NO.: 1715, AT: HITTALAKOPPA
ALL ARE R/O KAVANCHUR, TQ: SIDDAPUR,
DIST: UTTAR KANNADA.
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. LINGESH V. KATTEMANE, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY
DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION
M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001.
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WP No. 110116 of 2025
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2. THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION AUTHORITY,
3RD FLOOR, A-BLOCK, SHANTI NAGAR,
T.T.M.C. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560002.
REPRESENTED BY ITS COMMISSIONER.
3. THE DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER & DEPUTY
REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES,
SIRSI SUB DIVISION, DIST: UTTAR KANNADA 581401.
4. THE RETURNING OFFICER,
HITTHALAKOPPA SEVA SAHAKAR
SANGHA NI, KAVANCHUR SIDDAPUR (U.K) AND
DWI. DA.SA SAHAKAR SANGHA
DEPUTY REGISTRAR OFFICE
DIST: UTTAR KANNADA 581355.
5. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
HITTHALAKOPPA SEVA SAHAKAR
SANGHA NI, KAVANCHUR,
TQ : SIDDAPUR, DIST: U.K 581355.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R1, R3 & R4;
SRI. VITTHAL S. TELI, ADVOCATE FOR R5)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227
OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE APPROPRIATE
WRIT IN THE NATURE TO CERTIORARI TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED NON
ELIGIBLE NON- BORROWERS FINAL VOTERS LIST PUBLISHED BY THE
5TH RESPONDENT VIDE ANNEXURE-C DATED 18.09.2025 IN THE
INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY & ETC.
THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING,
THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R.NATARAJ
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ORAL ORDER
(PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R.NATARAJ)
1. Petitioners have sought a writ in the nature of certiorari to
quash the final voters' list published by respondent No.5 and to
direct the respondents to publish a final list of eligible non-
borrower members by including their names in the list of voters
for the elections to the Managing Committee of respondent No.5
scheduled on 04.01.2026.
2. The petitioners contend that they are members of
respondent No.5. Respondent No.5 proposed to conduct elections
to its Managing Committee and, for that purpose, initiated the
process of preparation of the eligible and ineligible voters' lists in
accordance with Rule 13-D of the Karnataka Co-operative
Societies Rules, 1960.
3. The grievance of the petitioners is that their names were
not included in the list of eligible non-borrower members on the
ground that they had failed to attend four consecutive general
body meetings of respondent No.5 and had also failed to avail
the minimum facilities and conduct the minimum transactions as
prescribed under Section 20(2)(d) of the Karnataka Co-operative
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Societies Act (for short, 'the Act'). Aggrieved by their exclusion
from the list of eligible voters, the petitioners are before this
Court challenging the voters' list notified for the said elections.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that out of 185
non-borrower members, only 128 members have been held
eligible to participate in the elections to the Managing Committee
of respondent No.5. He contends that the petitioners were not
informed of the Annual General Body Meetings and, therefore,
could not attend the same. He further submits that the
petitioners have availed the minimum services from respondent
No.5 and have also conducted the minimum transactions as
prescribed under Section 20(2)(d) of the Act.
5. Accordingly, he seeks a direction to the respondents to
consider inclusion of the names of the petitioners in the final
voters' list.
6. Per contra, learned Additional Government Advocate
appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 4 submits that the petitioners
have an alternative and efficacious remedy under Section 70 of
the Act, 1959. It is contended that several Co-ordinate Benches
of this Court have consistently held that where names of
members are excluded from the voters' list on the grounds
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enumerated under Section 20(2) of the Act, the aggrieved
persons must approach the appropriate statutory authority, and
this Court ought not to exercise its writ jurisdiction. Hence, she
submits that no indulgence is warranted in the present petition.
7. Learned counsel for respondent No.5 submits that the
petitioners have failed to attend four consecutive general body
meetings and have also failed to carry out the minimum
transactions as required under law. Therefore, they are not
entitled to participate in the elections to the Managing
Committee of respondent No.5. He further submits that if the
petitioners claim that they were not notified of the Annual
General Body Meetings, the same ought to have been challenged
before the competent authority under Section 70 of the Act. In
support of his submissions, learned counsel relies upon the
judgment of this Court in W.P. No.27139 of 2024 and connected
matters. He submits that under Rule 13-D, the role of
respondent No.3 is confined to preparing the lists of eligible and
ineligible voters by following the due procedure prescribed
therein.
8. The petitioners claim to be members of respondent No.5.
Being members, they are expected to attend the Annual General
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Body Meetings conducted by the society. Though the petitioners
contend that they were not notified of four consecutive meetings,
they have not produced any material to demonstrate that they
had raised such a grievance before respondent No.5 prior to their
disqualification. If the petitioners incurred disqualification by
failing to attend four consecutive general body meetings,
respondent No.3 had no option but to include their names in the
list of ineligible voters. Similarly, if the petitioners failed to avail
the minimum services or conduct the minimum transactions as
prescribed under Section 20(2)(d) of the Act, they were liable to
be declared ineligible to participate in the elections. The
petitioners have not produced any material before this Court to
establish non compliance of statutory requirements.
9. In the above circumstances, as rightly contended by the
learned Additional Government Advocate and learned counsel for
respondent No.5, the remedy of the petitioners lies not before
this Court but before the competent authority under Section 70
of the Act. This position of law has been consistently affirmed by
several Co-ordinate Benches of this Court, including in
W.P.No.27139 of 2024 and connected matters, wherein this
Court reaffirmed the principles laid down in H.S. Raju Vs. State
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of Karnataka and others1, Mohammad Beary and others Vs.
State of Karnataka and others2, and Sri.B.Ganganna and
Others Vs. The State of Karnataka and Others3.
10. Accordingly, no indulgence can be shown to the
petitioners. Hence, the writ petition is dismissed.
Sd/-
(R.NATARAJ)
JUDGE
AC
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 26
(2022) 4 AKR 775
ILR 2024 KAR 1901
