ORAL ORDER

Petitioners are seeking to direct respondents to include the names of petitioners in the eligible voters list and permit the petitioners to cast their votes in the election of respondent No.5-Society, which was scheduled to be held on 25.01.2025.

2. This Court, by way of interim arrangement on 24.01.2025, permitted the petitioners to cast their votes in the ensuing elections scheduled to be held on 25.01.2025 to the Board of Directors of respondent No.5-Society subject to the final outcome of this writ petition.

3. The challenge in this writ petition is on the premise that notice under Rule 13 of the Karnataka Co-Operative Societies Rules, 1960 (‘the KCS Rules, 1960’ for short) is not issued.

4. Rule 13-D of the KCS Rules, 1960 reads as under:

“13-D. Preparation of electoral rolls and calendar of events.–(1) Election Officer shall, after due verification, send a consolidated list of all co- operative societies in the district where elections are due at least 120 days before the date of expiry of the term of office of the boards to the Co-operative Election Authority indicating therein the following particulars.–

(a) the name and address of the society;

(b) number of elected dir