The court emphasized adherence to statutory procedures, allowing petitioners to invoke their rights under Section 70 of the KCS Act before seeking further judicial intervention.

ORDER :

M G UMA, J.

Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Additional Government Advocate for respondents No.1 and 4.

2. The petitioners are seeking issuance of writ in the nature of Mandamus, directing respondents to include their names in the eligible voters' list and permit them to contest and cast votes in the election that was scheduled to be held on 26.10.2025.

3. Learned Additional Government Advocate submits that, as per the interim order dated 24.10.2025, the petitioners were permitted to cast votes in the election that was held on 26.10.2025 subject to final outcome of the petition. The petitioners have not raised dispute under Section 70 of the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act (for short, 'the KCS Act'). before the appropriate authority and therefore, he prays for passing appropriate orders.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that he has not raised dispute under Section 70 of the KCS Act in view of the urgency in the matter.

5. There is no bar for the petitioners to invoke Section 70 of the KCS Act before the appropriate authority raising dispute. Under such circumstances, nothing is required to be considered by this Court bypassing Section 70 of the KCS Act.

6. Hence, the petition is disposed off, reserving liberty to the petitioners to approach the appropriate authority, raising dispute under Section 70 , within two weeks from today.

In the meantime, the Returning Officer-respondent No.4 is directed to announce the election result without counting the votes already cast by the petitioners.