ORDER :

1. The petitioners claim to be the members of the 6th respondent-bank (Hereinafter referred to as the ‘Bank’ for short). The petitioners have prayed to direct the Bank to redo the draft voters' list. Further prayer is to direct the 4th respondent-election officer to hold elections to the Board of the Bank after finalising the voters’ list by complying with the requirements under Rule 13-D(2-A) of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Rules, 1960. (For short ‘Rules 1960’).

2. The other prayer to direct the 4th respondent to consider petitioners’ representation to appoint an administrator to the Bank does not survive as the administrator is already appointed to the Bank.

3. This Court vide interim order dated 04.01.2024, permitted the Returning Officer (subject to the result of the petition) to publish the calendar of events for the election to the Board of the Bank. The calendar of events was published on 04.01.2024. While reserving the matter for judgment on 17.01.2024, this Court has permitted voting to be held on 21.01.2024. However, counting of votes and the result are withheld.

4. The petition is filed on the premise that the process initiated by the Bank to prepare the elig