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Vidya C v. the State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC22 Apr 2026WP/10797/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Chief Executive Officer appointment to co-operative society; Rule 17 and Rule 18, Karnataka Co-operative Societies Rules, 1960; Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959; CEO post vacant over 8 years; mandamus under Articles 226 and 227; Government has no role per AGA contention; liberty to approach competent authority; representation within 2 weeks, consideration within 2 months; writ petition disposed; High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru; CS-RES category; Ramanagara district milk producer women co-operative society.

What did the court decide?

Petition disposed of with liberty to the petitioners to approach the competent authority for a direction to respondent No.5 Society to comply with Rule 17 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Rules, 1960; representation to be made within 2 weeks and considered by the competent authority within 2 months.

Vidya C Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether respondent Nos. 1 to 4 should be directed to take appropriate steps to appoint a regular Chief Executive Officer to respondent No.5 Society in accordance with Rules 17 and 18 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Rules, 1960, the post having remained unfilled for more than eight years.

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Court's answer

It is open to the petitioners to approach the competent authority seeking a direction to respondent No.5 Society to comply with Rule 17 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Rules, 1960.

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Ratio / Principle

If such a representation is made by the petitioners within 2 weeks from the date of receipt of the order, it shall be considered by the competent authority within 2 months from the date of receipt of such representation.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Two petitioners filed a writ petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution seeking a direction to respondent Nos. 1 to 4 (State of Karnataka and the co-operative registrars) to take steps to appoint a regular Chief Executive Officer to respondent No.5, Seegekuppe Janatha Colony Milk Producer Women Co-operative Society Limited, registered under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959, invoking Rules 17 and 18 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Rules, 1960 and urging that the CEO post had remained unfilled for more than eight years. The learned AGA contended that the Chief Executive Officer is an employee of the society and the Government has no role in directing the appointment. E.S. Indiresh, J., without issuing the mandamus sought, disposed of the petition, holding that the petitioners may approach the competent authority for a direction to the society to comply with Rule 17; any representation made within two weeks of receipt of the order is to be considered by the competent authority within two months of its receipt.

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NC: 2026:KHC:21867 WP No. 10797 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

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DATED THIS THE 22^ND DAY OF APRIL, 2026

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S.INDIRESH WRIT PETITION NO. 10797 OF 2026 (CS-RES)

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BETWEEN:

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VIDYA C W/O CHETHA GOWDA S AGED ABOUT 27 YEARS

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R/O SEEGEKUPPE KALLUDEVANAHALLI VILLAGE AND POST, MADABALA HOBLI MAGADI TALUK

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BENGALURU SOUTH DISTRICT-562 120

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Digitally signed by CHAYA S A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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SHOBHA D.S W/O KIRAN GOWDA S AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS R/O SEEGEKUPPE KALLUDEVANAHALLI VILLAGE AND POST, MADABALA HOBLI MAGADI TALUK

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BENGALURU SOUTH DISTRICT-562 120

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…PETITIONERS

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(BY SRI. JAI PRAKASH REDDY M, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ITS SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU-560 001

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2 - NC: 2026:KHC:21867 WP No. 10797 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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THE ADDL. REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (INDUSTRIES AND DAIRY) O/O RCS IN KARNATAKA NO.1, ALI ASKAR ROAD BENGALURU-560 052

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DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES RAMANAGARA DISTRICT RAMANAGARA-562 152

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ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES RAMANAGARA DISTRICT BENGALURU SOUTH RAMANAGARA-562 152

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SEEGEKUPPE JANATHA COLONY MILK PRODUCER WOMEN CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED KALLUDEVANAHALLI VILLAGE AND POST, MADABALA HOBLI MAGADI TALUK RAMANAGARA DISTRICT BENGALURU SOUTH DISTRICT-562 120 BY ITS PRESIDENT SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE KARNATAKA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT, 1959

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. YOGESH D. NAIK, AGA FOR R1 TO R4)

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THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS 1 TO 4 TO TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO APPOINT THE REGULAR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO THE RESPONDENT NO.5-SOCIETY, AS PER RULE 17 AND 18 OF

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3 - NC: 2026:KHC:21867 WP No. 10797 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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KARNATAKA CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES RULES, 1960 AS PER ANNEXURE-M DATED 14.01.2026 IN NO.SANIRA-46/C.NE./ PRATHINIDHI/2025-26/443 ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.4 AND ETC

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THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S.INDIRESH

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ORAL ORDER

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Learned AGA accepts notice for respondent Nos. 1 to 4.

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Heard Sri. Jai Prakash Reddy, learned counsel

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for the petitioners and Sri. Yogesh D. Naik, learned AGA for respondent Nos. 1 to 4.

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Sri. Jai Prakash Reddy, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that, a direction be issued to respondent Nos. 1 to 4 to take appropriate steps to appoint Chief Executive Officer to respondent No. 5 - Society as steps have not been taken for appointing the Chief Executive Officer for more than 8 years. Accordingly sought for interference of this Court.

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4 - NC: 2026:KHC:21867 WP No. 10797 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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Per contra, learned AGA, invited the attention of

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the Court to Rule 17 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Rules, 1960 and contented that the Chief Executive Officer is an employee of the Society and therefore, the Government has no role in so far as directing respondent No. 5 to appoint the Chief Executive Officer. Accordingly sought for dismissal of the petition.

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In the light of the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the parties, taking into consideration Rule 17 of the aforementioned Rules and also the fact as urged in the writ petition that, the Chief Executive Officer has not been appointed to the respondent No. 5 Society for a period of 8 years, I am of the view that, it is open for the petitioners herein to approach the competent authority seeking direction to respondent No. 5 Society to comply with Rule 17 of the aforementioned Rules. If such a representation is made by

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the petitioners within 2 weeks from the date of receipt of this order, same shall be considered by the competent

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NC: 2026:KHC:21867 WP No. 10797 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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authority within 2 months from the date of receipt of such

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representation.

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