Karnataka High Court
Smt Anasuya W/O Pandurang vs The Bedasagaon Multipurpose Primary ... on 20 January, 2025
Author: M.Nagaprasanna
Bench: M.Nagaprasanna
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NC: 2025:KHC-D:862
WP No. 107637 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.107637 OF 2024 (CS-EL/M)
BETWEEN:
1. SMT. ANASUYA W/O. PANDURANG NAIK,
AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC: HOUSEWIFE/AGRICULTURE,
R/O: KURLI VILLAGE- 581346,
TQ: MUNDGOD, DIST: U.K. (SL. NO.2).
2. SMT. KERIYAVVA W/O. HARIYA NAIK,
AGE: 65 YEARS,
OCC: HOUSEWIFE/AGRICULTURE,
R/O: KURLI VILLAGE- 581346,
TQ: MUNDGOD, DIST: U.K. (SL. NO.3).
3. SMT. SEETHAVVA W/O. SANNAPPA NAIK,
AGE: 63 YEARS,
OCC: HOUSEWIFE/AGRICULTURE,
VISHAL R/O: KURLI VILLAGE- 58134,
NINGAPPA
PATTIHAL TQ: MUNDGOD, DIST: U.K. (SL. NO.4).
Digitally signed by
VISHAL NINGAPPA
PATTIHAL
Location: High Court of
Karnataka Dharwad Bench
Date: 2025.01.22 10:57:26
+0530
4. SHRI LOKESH S/O. BELLAPPA NAIK,
AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE,
R/O: KURLI VILLAGE- 581346,
TQ: MUNDGOD, DIST: U.K. (SL. NO.11).
5. SHRI RAMACHANDRA S/O. KRISHNA BHAT,
AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE,
R/O: UMMACHHAGI VILLAGE - 581346,
TQ: MUNDGOD, DIST: U.K. (SL. NO.13).
6. CHELA S/O. VENKATIGOUDA,
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NC: 2025:KHC-D:862
WP No. 107637 of 2024
AGE: 52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE,
R/O: UMMACHHAGI VILLAGE - 581 346,
TQ: MUNDGOD, DIST: U.K. (SL. NO.16).
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI R. H. ANGADI, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE BEDASAGAON MULTIPURPOSE
PRIMARY RURAL AGRICULTURAL
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD., BEDASAGOAN,
TQ: MUNDAGOD,
DIST: UTTAR KANNADA/KARWAR,
REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT-581 349.
2. THE BEDASAGAON MULTIPURPOSE P
RIMARY RURAL AGRICULTURAL
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD., BEDASAGOAN,
TQ: MUNDAGOD,
DIST: UTTAR KANNADA/KARWAR,
REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGER- 581 349.
3. THE RETURNING OFFICER/CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE BEDASAGAON
MULTIPURPOSE PRIMARY RURAL AGRICULTURAL
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD., BEDASAGOAN,
TQ: MUNDAGOD,
DIST: UTTAR KANNADA/KARWAR - 581 349.
4. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,
REPRESENTED BY IT'S SECRETARY,
THE DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION,
M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001.
5. THE STATE COOPERATIVE ELECTION COMMISSION,
IIIRD FLOOR, "A" BLOCK, TTMC BUILDING,
SHANTHI NAGAR, BENGALURU - 560 027,
REPRESENTED BY IT'S ELECTION COMMISSION.
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NC: 2025:KHC-D:862
WP No. 107637 of 2024
6. THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
CO.OPERATIVE SOCIETIES,
UTTAR KANNADA/KARWAR - 581 334.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. KIRTILATA R. PATIL, HCGP FOR R4, R6;
SRI G.V.BHARAMAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE FOR R5;
NOTICE TO R1 IS SERVED)
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
ORDER OR DIRECTION AND QUASH THE LIST OF INELIGIBLE
MEMBERS IN SO FAR AS PETITIONERS ARE CONCERNED, PRODUCED
AT ANNEXURE-C, DATED 06/12/2024, ISSUED BY THE 3RD
RESPONDENT AS ILLEGAL AND ARBITRARY IN THE INTEREST OF
JUSTICE AND EQUITY. AND CONSEQUENTLY A DIRECTION BE
ISSUED TO THE THIRD RESPONDENT TO PERMIT THE PETITIONERS
TO CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE ELECTION SCHEDULED ON
24/12/2024, TO THE RESPONDENT NO. 1 SOCIETY, FOR NON LOANY
CONSTITUENCY, BY ALLOWING THIS WRIT PETITION. ISSUE WRIT
IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT
ORDER OR DIRECTION DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO. 3 TO
CONDUCT ELECTION OF THE FIRST RESPONDENT SOCIETY AFTER
FOLLOWING DUE PROCESS OF LAW IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE
AND EQUITY AND ETC.,
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NC: 2025:KHC-D:862
WP No. 107637 of 2024
THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THERIEN 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:
(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,
NC: 2025:KHC-D:862
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
8.11.20211 does not meet these requirements. In
This Public Notice reads as follows:
NC: 2025:KHC-D:862
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
preparation of provisional list of voters, filing of
objection against the provisional list of voters,
consideration of the objection by the Collector and
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NC: 2025:KHC-D:862
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
election of returned candidate, if aggrieved, by
means of an election petition before the election
tribunal.
NC: 2025:KHC-D:862
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
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
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.
NC: 2025:KHC-D:862
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.
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.
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NC: 2025:KHC-D:862
All the contentions are left open for consideration in
appropriate proceedings, if commenced.
Sd/-
(M.NAGAPRASANNA)
JUDGE
Naa /CT-ASC
