Sri N Nagireddy v. the State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC24 Feb 2026WA/1572/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Writ appeal; Karnataka High Court; Division Bench oral judgment 2026; co-operative society elections; nomination of delegate; Kolar-Chikkaballapura DCC Bank; Assistant Registrar order dated 31/01/2025; interim orders; separate ballot box; alternate remedy; Section 70 Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act 1959; findings of Single Judge not to influence statutory dispute; rights and contentions reserved; interlocutory applications disposed; CS-EL/M.

What did the court decide?

Appeals disposed of at the preliminary hearing by clarifying that the findings of the learned Single Judge in the impugned order would not influence the authorities examining any dispute under Section 70 of the Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act, 1959; all rights and contentions of the parties left open; pending interlocutory applications disposed of. ¶¶64

Sri N Nagireddy Vs the State of Karnataka — Karnataka HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the observations/findings returned by the learned Single Judge in the impugned order would foreclose or influence the examination of issues in any dispute to be raised under Section 70 of the Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act, 1959. +1 more

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Court's answer

Clarified that any findings returned by the learned Single Judge in the impugned order would not influence the concerned authorities in examining any dispute that may be raised under Section 70 of the Act.

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Ratio / Principle

The appellant's contention that, where parties are relegated to the alternate remedy, no findings ought to have been returned on merits, was prima facie merited.

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Key takeaways

All rights and contentions of the parties were preserved/left open.ratio¶¶66

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru (Division Bench: Vibhu Bakhru, Chief Justice, author; C.M. Poonacha, J.), oral judgment dated 24.02.2026 in W.A. Nos. 1572 & 1577 of 2025 (CS-EL/M), filed under Section 4 of the Karnataka High Court Act. The appellant, Director of Kallahalli SFSCS, challenged a common Single Judge order dated 08.09.2025 in W.P. Nos. 14457 & 14472/2025, whereby the writ petitions of the respondent No.6 societies (Peduru and Batlahalli Vyasaya Seva Sahakara Sangha Niyamitha) were allowed to the limited extent of directing counting of their votes — cast in the elections to Kolar-Chikkaballapura DCC Bank Ltd. held on 28.05.2025 pursuant to interim orders — kept in a separate ballot box, announcement of results within ten days, and liberty to approach under Section 70 of the Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act, 1959. Holding the appellant's contention (that merits findings ought not to have been returned while relegating the parties to the alternate remedy) to be prima facie merited, and with respondents' counsel having no objection, the Division Bench clarified that any findings in the impugned order would not influence the authorities examining any dispute under Section 70 of the Act; all rights and contentions of the parties were left open and pending interlocutory applications were disposed of. The eligibility question itself was not decided by this Court.

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NC: 2026:KHC:11294-DB WA No. 1572 of 2025 C/W WA No. 1577 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT

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THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

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AND

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

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WRIT APPEAL NO. 1572 OF 2025 (CS-EL/M) C/W WRIT APPEAL NO. 1577 OF 2025 (CS-EL/M)

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IN W.A. No. 1572/2025

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BETWEEN:

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SRI N. NAGIREDDY S/O T. NAREPPA AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS DIRECTOR KALLAHALLI SFSCS CHINTAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLAPURA - 563 125

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…APPELLANT

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Digitally signed by AMBIKA H B

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Location: High Court of Karnataka

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(BY SRI D.R. RAVISHANKAR, SENIOR ADVOCATE A/W SRI SARAVANA S., ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION M.S BUILDING, DR. B.R.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001 REPT. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

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THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES 3^RD FLOOR, T.T.M.C. A BLOCK SHANTHI NAGAR BANGALORE - 560 027 REPT. BY ITS SECRETARY

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NC: 2026:KHC:11294-DB WA No. 1572 of 2025 C/W WA No. 1577 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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DEPUTY COMMISSIONER/ ELECTION OFFICER KOLAR DISTRICT KOLAR - 563 101

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RETURNING OFFICER KOLAR-CHIKKABALLAPURA DCC BANK LTD. DCC BANK ROAD KOLAR - 563 101

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KOLAR-CHIKKABALLAPURA DCC BANK LTD. DCC BANK ROAD KOLAR - 563 101 REPT. BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR (REGD. UNDER THE KARNATAKA CO-OP SOCIETIES ACT, 1959)

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PEDURU VYASAYA SEVA SAHAKARA SANGHA NIYAMITHA CHINTAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLAPURA - 563 146 REPT. BY ITS PRESIDENT/DELEGATE SRI LAKSHMAN REDDY.N S/O. CHIKKANARAYANAPPA AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS (REGD. UNDER THE KARNATAKA CO-OP SOCIETIES ACT, 1959)

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…RESPONDENTS

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(SMT. NAMITHA MAHESH B.G., AGA FOR R-1 & 3, SRI R. SRINIVASA GOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR R-5 & SRI JAYAKUMAR S. PATIL, SENIOR ADVOCATE A/W SRI DEVIPRASAD SHETTY, ADVOCATE FOR C/R-6)

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THIS WRIT APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE IN W.P. NO.14457/2025 DATED 08/09/2025 AND CONSEQUENTLY DISMISS THE PETITION FILED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.6 IN W.P. NO.14457/2025 HOLDING THAT THE 6^TH RESPONDENT SOCIETY WAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO NOMINATE A DELEGATE OR PARTICIPATE

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3 - NC: 2026:KHC:11294-DB WA No. 1572 of 2025 C/W WA No. 1577 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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IN THE ELECTIONS TO THE 5^TH RESPONDENT FEDERAL SOCIETY DURING THE SUBSISTENCE OF THE ORDER DATED 31/01/2025, PASSED BY THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES & ETC.

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IN W.A. NO. 1577/2025

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BETWEEN:

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SRI N NAGIREDDY S/O.T.NAREPPA AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS DIRECTOR KALLAHALLI SFSCS CHINTAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLAPURA - 563 125

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...APPELLANT

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(BY SRI D.R. RAVISHANKAR, SENIOR ADVOCATE A/W SRI SARAVANA S., ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION M.S. BUILDING DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001 REPT. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

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THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES 3^RD FLOOR, T.T.M.C. A BLOCK SHANTHI NAGAR BANGALORE - 560 027 REPT. BY ITS SECRETARY

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DEPUTY COMMISSIONER/ ELECTION OFFICER KOLAR DISTRICT KOLAR - 563 101

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RETURNING OFFICER KOLAR-CHIKKABALLAPURA

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NC: 2026:KHC:11294-DB WA No. 1572 of 2025 C/W WA No. 1577 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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DCC BANK LTD. DCC BANK ROAD KOLAR - 563 101

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KOLAR-CHIKKABALLAPURA DCC BANK LTD. DCC BANK ROAD KOLAR - 563 101 REPT. BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR (REGD. UNDER KARNATAKA CO-OP SOCIETIES ACT, 1959)

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BATLAHALLI VYASAYA SEVA SAHAKARA SANGHA NIYAMITHA CHINTAMANI TALUK CHIKKABALLAPURA - 563 146 REPT. BY ITS PRESIDENT/DELEGATE VENKATASHIVAREDDY M.P. S/O. M.M. PAPANNA AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS (REGD. UNDER KARNATAKA CO-OP SOCIETIES ACT, 1959)

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...RESPONDENTS

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(SMT. NAMITHA MAHESH B.G., AGA FOR R-1 & 3, SRI R. SRINIVASA GOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR R-5 & SRI JAYAKUMAR S. PATIL, SENIOR ADVOCATE A/W SRI DEVIPRASAD SHETTY, ADVOCATE FOR C/R-6)

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THIS WRIT APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE IN W.P. NO.14472/2025 DATED 08.09.2025 AND CONSEQUENTLY DISMISS THE PETITION FILED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.6 IN W.P. NO.14472/2025 HOLDING THAT THE 6^TH RESPONDENT SOCIETY WAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO NOMINATE A DELEGATE OR PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS TO THE 5^TH RESPONDENT FEDERAL SOCIETY DURING THE SUBSISTENCE OF THE ORDER DATED 31/01/2025, PASSED BY THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES & ETC.

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5 - NC: 2026:KHC:11294-DB WA No. 1572 of 2025 C/W WA No. 1577 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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THESE APPEALS, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

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ORAL JUDGMENT

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(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)

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The appellant has filed the present appeals impugning a common order dated 08.09.2025 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in Writ Petition Nos.14457/2025 and 14472/2025 (CS-EL/M).

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By way of interim orders, the societies in question (respondent No.6 in the present appeals) were permitted to cast their votes in the elections held on 28.05.2025. The learned Single Judge had allowed the writ petitions to the limited extent of directing the respondents to count the votes which were kept in a separate ballot box and to announce the results within ten days of the receipt of the order, subject to there being no order interdicting the same. The learned Single Judge had also reserved liberty for

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6 - NC: 2026:KHC:11294-DB WA No. 1572 of 2025 C/W WA No. 1577 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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the parties to approach under Section 70 of the Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act, 1959 [ the Act ].

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The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellant submits said that there is no difficulty in availing of the remedy under Section 70 of the Act. However, the observations made by the learned Single Judge may foreclose the examination on certain issues. He submits that if the parties were to be relegated for availing the alternate remedy, no findings ought to have been returned on merits.

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The said contention appears to be prima facie merited.

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In view of the above, we clarify that any findings returned by the learned Single Judge in the impugned order would not influence the concerned authorities in examining any dispute that may be raised under Section 70 of the Act.

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