Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 2942 Kant
Judgement Date : 27 January, 2025
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WP No. 776 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA
WRIT PETITION NO. 776 OF 2025 (CS-EL/M)
BETWEEN:
1. RANJITH. R
AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS
D/O RAVI. A
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
BK HALLI POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
2. SUDHA RANI
AGED ABOUR 48 YEARS
W/O VENKATESH
RESIDING AT HUTTANAHALLI VILLAGE
CHIKKAJALA POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
Digitally signed by
BANGALORE 562157.
MAHALAKSHMI B M
Location: HIGH 3. VISHWANATH BABU
COURT OF
KARNATAKA AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS
S/O NAGARAJ
RESIDING AT HUTTANAHALLI VILLAGE
CHIKKAJALA POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE-562157.
4. KUSUMA
AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS
W/O VISHWANATH BABU
RESIDING AT HURTANAHALLI VILLAGE
CHIKKAJALA POST,
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WP No. 776 of 2025
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE- 562157.
5. MEENAKSHI
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
W/O LAKSHMAIAH
RESIDING AT HUTTANAHALLI VILLAGE
CHIKKAJALA POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE-562157.
6. SUBBE GOWDA
AGED ABOUT 75 YEARS
S/O CHANNARAYAPPA
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K HALLI POST,
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
7. MANJUNATH
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS
S/O GOVINDAPPA
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K HALLI POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
8. SUBBAMMA
AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS
W/O SUBBE GOWDA
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K HALLI POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
9. VIDYASAGAR
AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS
S/O GOVINDAPPA
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WP No. 776 of 2025
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K HALLI POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
10. RAJE GOWDA
AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS
S/O CHANDAPPA
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K HALLI POST,
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
11. SUDHA
AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS
W/O RAJE GOWDA
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K HALK POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
12. MAHALAKSHMI
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
W/O AVINASH READING AT
KOLIPURA VILLAGE B.K HALLI POST,
YELAHANKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
13. AKKAYAMMA
AGED ABOUT 70 YEARS
W/O ANJINAPPA B S
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K HALLI POST,
YELAHANKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
14. BHARATHI
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WP No. 776 of 2025
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
W/O A RAVI
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K HALLI POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
15. RAJANNA
AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS
RESIDING AT KOLPURA VILLAGE
B.K HALL POST,
YELAHANKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
16. ASHWINI
AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS
D/O RAVI.
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
BK. HALLI POST,
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
17. VENKATESH
AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS
S/O NAGARAJ
RESIDING AT HUTANAHALI VILLAGE
CHIKKAJALA POST, YELAHANKA TALK
BANGALORE 562157.
18. UMADEVI
AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS
W/O RAJANNA
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K. HALLI POST,
YELAHANKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
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WP No. 776 of 2025
19. SANDYA
AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS
W/O MANJUNATH
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K. HALLI POST, YELAHANKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
20. ARCHANA
AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS
W/O VIDYASAGAR
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K. HALLI POST, YELAHANKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
21. VIJAYALAKSHMI
AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS
W/O K M RAMESH
RESIDING AT KOLIPURA VILLAGE
B.K. HALLI POST, YELAHANKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
22. GOWRAMMA
AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS
W/O ANJINAPPA RESIDING AT
THARABANAHALLI VILLAGE
CHIKKAJALA POST,
YELAHANKA TALUK
BANGALORE-562157.
23. UMA
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
W/O CHANDRAPPA
RESIDING AT THARABANAHALLI VILLAGE
CHIKKAJALA POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE-562157.
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WP No. 776 of 2025
24. MOHAN
AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS
S/O LAKSHMI NARAYANAPPA
RESIDING AT THARABANAHALLI VILLAGE
CHIKKAJALA POST, YELAHANKA TALUK
BANGALORE-562157.
25. JAYARAMAIAH
AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS
S/O NARAYANAPPA
RESIDING AT DODDAJALA VILLAGE AND POST
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE-562157.
26. MUNIRAJU
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
S/O THAYAPPA
RESIDING AT DODDAJALA VILLAGE AND POST
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562157.
27. VEERABHADRAIAH
AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS
S/O SADASHIVAIAH
RESIDING AT DODDAJALA VILLAGE AND PAST
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE- 562157.
28. GOWRI PRASAD
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
S/O VEERABHADRAIAH
RESIDING AT DODDAJALA VILLAGE AND POST
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE-562157.
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WP No. 776 of 2025
29. MANJUNATH
AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS
S/O SIDDALINGAPPA
RESIDING AT DODDAJALA VILLAGE AND POST
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE-562157.
30. CHANDRASHEKHAR ACHAR
AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS
S/O BHRAMACHAR
RESIDING AT DODDAJALA VILLAGE AND POST
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE-562157.
31. RAJANNA
AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS
S/O MUNIYAPPA
RESIDING MEESAGANAHALLI VILLAGE
BK HALLI POST
YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
32. MUNIKRISHNAPPA
AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS
S/O ANGADI CHANNAPPA
RESIDING AT NAVARATHNA AGRAHARA
CHIKKAJALA POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK,
BANGALORE-562157.
33. LAKSHMI DEVI
AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS
W/O MANJUNATH
RESIDING AT NAVARATHNA AGRAHARA
CHIKKAJALA POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK,
BANGALORE-562157.
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WP No. 776 of 2025
34. LAXMAMMA
AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS
W/O RAMAIAH
RESIDING AT MUTTAGADAHALLI VILLAGE
BK HALLI POST, YELAHANAKA TALUK
BANGALORE 562149.
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. BRIJESH CHANDER GURU, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
BY ITS SECRETARY,
DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION,
VIDHANA SOUDHA,
BANGALORE-560001.
2. THE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ELECTION
AUTHORITY III FLOOR, T.T.M.C. A BLOCK,
SHANTHI NAGAR,
BANGALORE-560027.
3. THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE
SOCIETIES,
NO.146, 8 CROSS, 3 MAIN ROAD,
MARGOSA ROAD,
MALLESHWARAM,
BANGALORE-560003.
4. SERI CULTURE CUM - FARMERS SERVICE
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED,
UNDER COOPERATIVE SOCIETY 1959,
HAVING OFFICE AT
CHIKKAJALA VILLAGE AND POST JALA HOBLI,
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WP No. 776 of 2025
YELAHANKA TALUK
BANGALORE-562157.
REPRESENTED BY CHIEF OFFICER.
5. THE RETURNING OFFICER/ADDITIONAL DEPUTY
COMMISSIONER,
CHIKKAJALA PRATHAMIKA KRUSHI PATTINA
SAHAKUA SANGA NI (PACS),
CHIKKAJALA,
JALA HOBLI,
YELAHANKA TALUK,
BANGALORE DISTRICT - 562 157.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. YOGESH D NAIK, AGA FOR R1, R3 AND R5;
SRI. T.L. KIRAN KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2)
THIS W.P IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DECLARE THAT
SECTION 20(2) (A-IV) AND (A-V) OF THE KARNATAKA CO-
OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT 1959 ARE ULTRA VIRES OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA AND ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA
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WP No. 776 of 2025
ORAL ORDER
Petitioners are seeking to direct respondents to
include the names of petitioners in the eligible voters list
and permit the petitioners to cast their votes in the
election of respondent No.4-Society, which was scheduled
to be held on 19.01.2025.
2. This Court, by way of interim arrangement on
16.01.2025, permitted the petitioners to cast their votes in
the ensuing elections scheduled to be held on 19.01.2025
to the Board of Directors of respondent No.4-Society
subject to the final outcome of this writ petition.
3. The challenge in this writ petition is on the
premise that notice under Rule 13 of the Karnataka Co-
Operative Societies Rules, 1960 ('the KCS Rules, 1960' for
short) is not issued.
4. Rule 13-D of the KCS Rules, 1960 reads as
under:
"13-D. Preparation of electoral rolls and calendar of events.-(1) Election Officer shall, after
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due verification, send a consolidated list of all co- operative societies in the district where elections are due at least 120 days before the date of expiry of the term of office of the boards to the Co-operative Election Authority indicating therein the following particulars.-
(a) the name and address of the society;
(b) number of elected directors of the board;
(c) the date of expiry of the term of office of the board;
(d) the proposed places where the elections are to be held or other particulars as required by the Co-operative Election Authority.
(2) The Co-operative Election Authority shall, on receipt of such reports from the Election Officer, containing the list of cooperative societies where elections are due, publish the calendar of events for the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections of the boards of the co-
operative societies indicating the name and address of each society.
(2-A) The election officer shall take steps for publication of voter list who are not eligible to vote in the following manner, namely.-
(i) For publication of draft ineligible electoral list, the chief executive of every cooperative Society shall prepare notice in respect of
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members not attending three out of the last five annual general body, meetings and members not utilising such minimum services or facilities in a co-operative year as specified in the bye-laws for three consecutive co- operative years.
(ii) The chief executive of every co-operative society shall send above prepared notice to all ineligible members, fifteen days prior to six months to the date of election of the board by registered post and an opportunity shall be given to such member to file their objections, if any within fifteen days from the date of notice.
(iii) The chief executive of every co-operative society shall submit the list of ineligible voters to the election officer along with their objections and also produce the records pertaining to absence from general body meeting with attendance and services utilised by members. He has to produce the records for having sent the notice along with acknowledgement to the election officer within thirty days from the date of notice as specified by the election officer.
(iv) The chief executive of every cooperative society shall state in his notice that the ineligible voter can appear before the election
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officer between thirty days to sixty days from the date of notice to get the remedy.
v) The election officer has to hear and dispose the objections filed by the ineligible voters within sixty days from the days of submission of objections from such voters.
(vi) The final list of ineligible voters shall be published on or before fifteen clear days prior to the date of election.
(3) The Election Officer shall take steps for publication of voters list in the following manner, namely.-
(a) for publication of draft eligible 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 date of election;
(d) for publication of final eligible voters list before fifteen clear days prior to the date of election.
(4) It shall be the duty of every society to furnish correct information required by the Election
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Officer to enable him to approve the electoral rolls as directed by the Co-operative Election Authority.
(5) The chief executive of every co- operative society shall prepare (i) a draft list of the eligible members or representatives and delegates with right to vote, (ii) a list of members whose repayments will fall due before the date fixed for publication of final electoral roll, (iii) a list of defaulters, (iv) a list of other members or representatives and delegates who are not eligible to vote at a general election indicating the reasons for ineligibility memberwise on the basis of entries in the updated membership register specifying,-
(a) the name of the member or representative, the admission number, the name of the parent or husband and the address of such member or representative in the case of an individual member;
(b) the admission number, the name of the society, the name of the delegate proposed to represent the society in the case of a member society,
and submit the said lists to the Election Officer along with the related books, records and documents and any other information as the Election Officer may
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require, at least sixty days before the date of election.
(6) The Co-operative Election Authority shall call upon the Chief Executive of the co-operative society to obtain from the member society, the name of an authorised member of the board of such society as a delegate, together with the resolution of the board of the said society and the specimen signature along with the photograph of the delegate duly attested and bearing the seal of the society and furnish all such information under sub-rule (5).
(7) The final electoral roll shall consist of the following,-
(a) all the individual members with right to vote in respect of a primary co-operative society; or
(b) all the individual members and the delegates of the members societies with right to vote in respect of a secondary co-operative society; or
(c) all the delegates of the member societies with right to vote in respect of a federal and an apex society.
(8) The copy of such electoral roll in respect of each society shall be kept open for inspection in
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the office of such society as also in the office of the Election Officer.
(9) The election calendar of events for general election of directors of the board shall provide for.-
(a) date of notification inviting nomination;
(b) last date for receipt of nomination;
(c) date and time for scrutiny of nomination;
(d) date and time for publication of list of validly nominated candidates;
(e) date and time for withdrawal of nomination papers;
(f) Date and time for publication list of contesting candidates;
(g) Date and time for allotment of symbols and publication of contesting candidates with symbols;
(h) Date and time of poll;
(i) Date and time of counting and declaration of results."
5. The case of the petitioners is that the
petitioners have paid all membership/shareholders due to
respondent No.4-Society, the petitioners and
representatives of the petitioners have attended all the
annual general body meetings from 2020-25, in spite of
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which respondent No.4-Society has dropped the
petitioners from the eligible voters list and the provisions
of Rule 13-D of KCS Rules, 1960 is overlooked by
respondent No.4-Society.
6. The Co-Ordinate Bench of this Court in the case
of Sri. B Ganganna and others Vs. The State of
Karnataka, Department of Co Operation and others1
(B Ganganna) had given deliberate consideration to the
provisions of Rule 13-D of the KCS Rules, 1960 and
adjudication of dispute under Section 70 of the Karnataka
Co-Operative Societies Act, 1959 ('KCS Act, 1959' for
short). The Co-Ordinate Bench of this Court framed the
following points for consideration at paragraph No.9, which
reads as under:
"9. In the light of the contentions raised, the following questions arise for consideration;
(a) Whether a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is maintainable (before the publication of the calendar of events under Rule
14) to redo the voters' list for violation of Rule 13-
ILR 2024 KAR 1901
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D(2-A) of the Rules, 1960, in preparing the eligible and ineligible voters' list?
(b) Whether the authority acting under Section 70(2)(c) of the Act, 1959 can decide the validity of the electoral roll vis-à-vis Rule 13-D(2-A) of Rules, 1960?
(c) Whether the judgments of co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Mohammad Beary and H.S. Raju supra are per incurium and contrary to the law in Election Commission of India through Secretary supra."
(Emphasis supplied)
7. The Co-Ordinate Bench after giving deliberate
consideration to various judgments has held at paragraph
Nos.50 and 51 as under:
"50. For the reasons recorded, this Court concludes as under:
(a) The preparation of electoral roll under Rule, 13-D(2-A) of the Karnataka Co-Operative Rules 1960 is an integral part of the election process in the context of a question whether the writ petition is maintainable when the challenge is laid to the procedure initiated for preparing electoral roll.
(b) In a dispute under Section 70(2)(c) of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959,
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the Authority under Section 70 can decide the question on the validity of electoral roll prepared under the Rules, 1960 and its impact on the election.
(c) The judgments in MOHAMMAD BEARY and H.S. RAJU are not per incurium
(d) The writ petition under Article 226 of Constitution of India to challenge the electoral roll on the ground of non compliance of Rule 13-D(2-A) of Rules, may lie in exceptional cases.
51. Based on the conclusions arrived at in the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is of the view that no exceptional case is made out in this petition to exercise Article 226 jurisdiction. This Court has not expressed any opinion on the eligible and ineligible voters' list prepared during the pendency of the petition. Hence, the following:
ORDER
Writ petition is disposed of on the following terms:
(i) The returning officer shall count the votes cast in the election held on 21.01.2024, to the Board of the 6th respondent bank, and shall announce the results.
(ii) The liberty is reserved to the petitioners or any aggrieved person to raise objections to
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the validity of the electoral roll in an election petition under Section 70(2)(c) of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959.
(iii) If such a dispute is raised, the Authority under Section 70 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959, shall examine all questions including the question relating to validity of the eligible and ineligible voters' list and impact on the election to the Board of the 6th respondent - Bank.
(iv) Nothing is expressed on the merits of the eligible and ineligible voters' list published during the pendency of the petition and said question kept open to be decided in the dispute under Section 70 of the Karnataka Co- operative Societies Act, 1959, if raised."
8. Section 70 of the KCS 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.-
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(a) among members, past members and persons claiming through members, past members and deceased members, or
(b) between a member, past member or person claiming through a member, past member or deceased member and the society, its board or any officer, agent or employee of the society, or
(c) between the society or its board and any past board, any officer, agent or employee, or any past officer, past agent or past employee or the nominee, heirs, or legal representatives of any deceased officer, deceased agent, or deceased employee of the society, or
(d) between the society and any other co-
operative society, or a credit agency.
such dispute shall be referred to the Registrar for decision and no civil or Labour or Revenue Court or Industrial Tribunal shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or other proceeding in respect of such dispute.
(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.-
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(a) a claim by the society for any debt or demand due to it from a member or the nominee, heirs or legal representatives of a deceased member, whether such debt or demand be admitted or not;
(b) a claim by a surety against the principal debtor where the society has recovered from the surety any amount in respect of any debt or demand due to it from the principal debtor, as a result of the default of the principal debtor whether such debt or demand is admitted or not;
(c) any dispute arising in connection with the election of a President, Vice-president or any office-bearer or Member of board of the society.
(d) any dispute between a co-operative society and its employees or past 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);
(e) a claim by a co-operative society for any deficiency caused in the assets of the co- operative society by a member, past member,
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deceased member or deceased officer, past agent or deceased agent or by any servant, past servant or deceased servant or by its board, past or present whether such loss be admitted or not.
(3) If any question arises whether a dispute referred to the Registrar under this section is a dispute touching the constitution, management or the business of a co-operative society, the decision thereon of the Registrar shall be final and shall not be called in question in any court.
(4) xxxxx (5) x x x x x"
9. The plain reading of Section 70 makes it clear
that an extensive and exhaustive mechanism is provided
under the aforesaid Section and the authority under
Section 70 can decide the question on the validity of
electoral roll prepared under the Rules, 1960 and its
impact on the elections, whether the petitioners are the
eligible voters and have paid membership dues, or annual
general body meetings are attended or availed the
minimum services are all questions of fact, which have to
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be decided under Section 70 of the KCS Act, 1959 and the
writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
to challenge the electoral roll, the petitioners have not
made out any exceptional case in this petition to be
entertained and the decision of the Co-Ordinate Bench of
this Court in the case of B. Ganganna as stated supra is
squarely applicable to the present facts and the present
petition needs to be disposed of in similar terms and
hence, the following:
ORDER
i. The Returning Officer shall count the votes cast in
the elections held on 19.01.2025 to the Board of
Directors of respondent No.4-Society and shall
announce the results.
ii. Liberty is reserved to the petitioners or any
aggrieved party to raise objections to the validity
of the electoral by filing an Election Petition under
Section 70(2) of the KCS Act, 1959.
iii. If any dispute is raised under the provisions of
KCS Act, 1959 the authority under Section 70 of
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the KCS Act, 1959 shall examine all questions
including the questions relating to the validity of
the eligible and ineligible voters list and impact of
the election to the Board of respondent No.4-
Society.
iv. All contentions of the parties are kept open.
v. This Court has not expressed merits and demerits
on eligibility or ineligibility of the voters list.
vi. With the said observations, the writ petition
stands disposed of.
Sd/-
JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA
AT
CT:SNN
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