Disposed¶64

Sri Mahesh Er v. the State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC5 Jan 2026WP/39056/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Co-operative society election dispute; writ petition disposed of as infructuous on appointment of Administrator (order dated 26.12.2025) to the Karnataka State Co-operative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank; challenge to Department of Co-operation order dated 27-11-2025 No. CO 118 CLM 2025 (Annexure-C); board continuance per notification dated 05-06-2024; election interfered with mid-stage; PCARD bank delegates/directors as petitioners; filed under Articles 226 and 227; liberty reserved; interlocutory applications disposed.

What did the court decide?

No substantive relief granted; writ petition disposed of as infructuous, with liberty reserved to challenge the order dated 26.12.2025 appointing the Administrator, and pending interlocutory applications disposed of. ¶64

Sri Mahesh Er 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 the impugned order dated 27.11.2025 (No. CO 118 CLM 2025, Annexure-C) passed by respondent No.1 should be quashed. +3 more

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Ratio / Principle

Since an Administrator was appointed to respondent No.6-Bank by order dated 26.12.2025 and has taken charge and has been performing his duties, nothing survives for consideration in this writ petition.

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Key takeaways

Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of as having become infructuous.ratio¶63
Liberty is reserved to the petitioner to challenge the order dated 26.12.2025 appointing the Administrator, if so desired.ratio¶64
Pending interlocutory applications do not survive for consideration and stand disposed of accordingly.ratio¶65

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (CS-EL/M) No. 39056 of 2025, High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru, 05-01-2026, Ashok S.Kinagi J. [NC: 2026:KHC:290]. Eleven delegates/directors of various PCARD banks, filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India against the State of Karnataka (Department of Co-operation), the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, the State Co-operative Election Authority, the District Election Officer/Regional Commissioner, the Returning Officer and the Karnataka State Co-operative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1960), sought (a) quashing of the order dated 27-11-2025 bearing No. CO 118 CLM 2025 (Annexure-C) passed by respondent No.1, (b) continuance of the existing board per the notification dated 05-06-2024 (Annexure-D) until elections to respondent No.6 bank, and (c) resumption of the election from the stage at which it was interfered with. At hearing, counsel reported that an Administrator had been appointed to respondent No.6-Bank vide order dated 26.12.2025 and had taken charge; holding that nothing survived, the Court disposed of the writ petition as having become infructuous, reserved liberty to challenge the Administrator-appointment order dated 26.12.2025, and disposed of pending interlocutory applications. No precedent was cited or engaged with.

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NC: 2026:KHC:290 WP No. 39056 of 2025

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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 5^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK S.KINAGI

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WRIT PETITION NO. 39056 OF 2025 (CS-EL/M)

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BETWEEN:

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SRI MAHESH ER S/O LATE RANGEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS ESHWAR HALLI, LAKNA HOBLI ESHWAR POST, CHIKMAGALUR DISTRICT-577146 DELEGATE CHIKKAMAGALUR PCARD BANK

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Digitally signed by SUNITHA K S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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SRI MG MAMADAPUR, S/O GURUPADAPPA, AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS, WARD NO.5 LAXMI NAGAR, COLLEGE ROAD, BADAMI BAGALKOT-587201. DELEGATE / DIRECTOR BADAMI PCARD BANK

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SRI SHEKAPPA HUCHAPPA HADIMANI, S/O HUCHAPPA HADIMANI, AGED ABOUT 70 YEARS HADMANI ONI, SHIGGOAN TOWN & TALUK, HAVERI DISTRICT-581205. DELEGATE / DIRECTOR SHIGGON PCARD BANK

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SMT. SHOBHA BN, W/O UMESH KUMAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:290 WP No. 39056 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, NO.87 MALLAPURA ROAD, CHANNAGIRI TALUK DAVANGERE DIST-577552. DIRECTOR CHANNAGIRI PCARD BANK

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SRI. MALLIKARJUN, S/O PANCHAPPA MALSHETTY AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS NO.3-51, VIJAY LAXMI STREET, NEAR BASVESHWARA CHOWK, HUMNABAD, BIDAR-585330. DIRECTOR / DELEGATE HUMNABAD PCARD BANK

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SRL. THIMMARAYI GOWDA, S/O KEMPEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS CHAKENAHALLI VILLAGE AND POST NAGAMANGALA, MANDYA-571418. DIRECTOR / DELEGATE NAGAMANGALA PCARD BANK

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SRI. SONNEGOWDA, S/O GOPALAPPA, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, NO.2980 NEW LAYOUT, 1^ST MAIN, 1^ST CROSS, NEAR DOOM LIGHT CIRCLE, KOLAR-563101. DIRECTOR / DELEGATE KOLAR PCARD BANK

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SRI. RAJU SATTEPPA BAIRUGOL, S/O SATTEPPA, AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS, RAJAPUR BELGAUM DISTRICT BELGAUM-591224. DIRECTOR / DELEGATE GOKAK PCARD BANK

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3 - NC: 2026:KHC:290 WP No. 39056 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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SRI. MAHADEVANNA M, S/O LATE NAGNA MADEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS HALE KEMPAINAHUNDI TIRUMAKUDALU NARSIPURA MYSORE-57110 DIRECTOR / DELEGATE T. NARASIPURA PCARD BANK

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SRI RAYAPPA GOUDA, S/O SAHEB GOUDA AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS NO.110 DARSHNAPURA UKKINAL YADGIR SHAPUR-585309 DIRECTOR / DELEGATE SHAPUR PCARD BANK

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SRI VRUSHABHENDRAIAH, S/O JM MALIAPPAIAH AGED ABOUT 79 YEARS SRI GURU KRUPA FARM KUDLGI ROAD SANDUR BELLARY 589119 DIRECTOR / DELEGATE KARTHI KESHWAR PCARD BANK.

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…PETITIONERS

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(BY SRI. MOHAMMED TAHIR A., ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION VIKAS SOUDHA, BANGALORE-560 001 REP. BY ITS SECRETARY

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THE REGISTRAR CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES NO. 1, ALI ASKER ROAD BANGALORE-560052.

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THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION AUTHORITY,

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NC: 2026:KHC:290 WP No. 39056 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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3^RD FLOOR, TTMC A BLOCK, K.H.ROAD, SHANTINAGAR, BANGALORE-560027, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.

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THE DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER AND ALSO REGIONAL COMMISSIONER BANGALORE DIVISION BANGALORE-560001.

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THE RETURNING OFFICER, THE KARNATAKA STATE CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK TIPU SULTAN PALACE ROAD BANGALORE 560018

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THE KARNATAKA STATE CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK TIPPU SULTAN PALACE ROAD BANGALORE-560018 REP. BY ITS CEO, (REGISTERED UNDER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT, 1960)

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…RESPONDENTS

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[BY SRI. YOGESH D NAIK, AGA FOR R1,R2 &R5 (MA NOT FILED) SRI. A DEVARAJ, ADVOCATE FOR R3 & R4 (VK NOT FILED) SRI. KSHAMA NARAGUND, ADVOCATE FOR R6]

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THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 27-11-2025 BEARING NO. CO 118 CLM 2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-C PASSED BY RESPONDENT NO.1, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. B) DIRECT THE RESPONDENT NO.1-5 TO CONTINUE THE PRESENT BOARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NOTIFICATION DATED 05-06-2024 VIDE ANNEXURE-D, TILL THE ELECTIONS TO RESPONDENT NO.6 ARE HELD, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY, C) DIRECT THE RESPONDENT NO. 2-5 TO CONDUCT THE ELECTION TO RESPONDENT NO.6 BANK FROM THE STAGE FROM WHERE IT

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5 - NC: 2026:KHC:290 WP No. 39056 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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WAS INTERFERED WITH, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

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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 ASHOK S.KINAGI

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ORAL ORDER

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The petitioners have filed this writ petition seeking following reliefs:

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“a) quash the impugned order dated 27.11.2025 vide Annexure-C passed by respondent No.1, in the interest of justice and equity.

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b) direct respondent Nos.1 to 5 to continue the present board in accordance with the notification dated 05-06-2024 vide Annexure-D, till the elections to respondent No.6 are held, in the interest of justice and equity,

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c) direct the respondent Nos.2 to 5 to conduct the election to respondent No.6 bank from the stage from where it was interfered with, in the interest of justice and equity.”

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NC: 2026:KHC:290 WP No. 39056 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that after filing the writ petition, an Administrator was appointed to respondent No.6-Bank vide order dated 26.12.2025. In view of the appointment of the Administrator to respondent No.6-Bank, the writ petition does not survive for consideration, and accordingly, he submitted that a liberty be reserved to the petitioners to challenge the order dated 26.12.2025.

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Learned counsel for respondent No.6 filed a memo along with a documents, which disclose that the Administrator has been appointed to respondent No.6-Bank and the Administrator has taken charge and has been performing the duties in accordance with law.

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Since, order dated 26.12.2025 has been passed appointing the Administrator to respondent No.6Bank and he has taken the charge and has been

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NC: 2026:KHC:290 WP No. 39056 of 2025

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HC-KAR

¶63

performing his duties, in view of the same, nothing survives for consideration in this writ petition. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of as having become infructuous .

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However, a liberty is reserved to the petitioner to challenge the Order dated 26.12.2025, if so desired.

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In view of the dismissal of the writ petition, pending interlocutory applications do not survive for consideration and disposed of accordingly.

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Sd/(ASHOK S.KINAGI) JUDGE

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RK CT:KHV List No.: 2 Sl No.: 12

Sri Mahesh Er v. the State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Sri Mahesh Er v. the State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

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