IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13^TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 30497 OF 2025 (LB-ELE)

BETWEEN:

SRI. B. RANGASWAMY S/O LATE BASAVARAJAPPA, AGED 40 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, RESIDING AT: T.H. ROAD, AJAMPURA TOWN, AJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT-577547.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. CHANDRASHEKAR L., ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, 4^TH FLOOR, VIKASA SOUDHA, BENGALURU- 560 001.

Digitally REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY signed by SUMA Location: 2. THE TAHASHILDHAR/RETURNING OFFICER, HIGH PRESENTLY ADMINISTRATOR, COURT OF KARNATAKA AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, AJJAMPURA TOWN, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT.

OFFICE OF THE TAHASILDHAR, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT-577547.

3. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AND DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, CHIKKAMAGALUR TOWN, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT PIN 577101

4. SMT. KAVITHA D, W/O KESHAVA MURTHY, AGED 35 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, R/AT BASAVESWARA LAYOUT, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT-577547.

5. SHRI J.N. PRAKASH, S/O J.T. NAGENDRAPPA, AGED 55 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, R/AT NEHRU ROAD, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT- 577547.

6. SHRI NISAR AHMED J, S/O JABBI ULLA, AGED 33 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, R/AT KOTTE ROAD, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT-577547.

7. SHRI REVANNA A G, S/O S GANGAPPA, AGED 45 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, R/AT KANNAMBA ROAD, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT- 577547.

8. SHRI R ANNAPPA, S/O LATE RANGAPPA, AGED 46 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, R/AT VINOBHANAGAR, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT- 577547.

9. SMT. SUMALATHA S N, W/O MALLIKARJUNA S C, AGED 40 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, R/AT BASAVESWARA LAYOUT, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT- 577547.

10. SHRI THRITHAPRASAD A G, S/O JAYAPPA AGED 47 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, R/AT NEHRU NAGAR, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT- 577547.

11. SHRI MADUSUDAN, S/O LATE VIRUPAKASHAPPA, AGED 45 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, R/AT SIDDARAMESHWARA ROAD, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT- 577547.

12. SMT. BINDU, W/O YATISH S A, AGED 30 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, R/AT BANASHANKARI ROAD, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT- 577547.

13. SMT. SHOBHA, W/O A.S.SANTHOSH, AGED 37 YEARS, ELECTED COUNSELOR OF AJJAMPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH, R/AT BANASHANKARI ROAD, AJJAMPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALUR DISTRICT- 577547.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. PRATHIMA HONNAPURA, ADDITIONAL ADVOCATE GENERAL FOR RESPONDENT NOS.1 TO 3;

SRI. B.M.KUSHALAPPA, ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT NOS.4, 11 TO

13)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE ELECTION MEETING NOTICE DATED 29.09.2025 VIDE NO.ELNCR/P.P.A.U.CH/01/2025-26 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.2, PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A AND ETC.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner has sought for a writ in the nature of certiorari to quash the election meeting notice bearing No.EJ¯ïJ£ï¹Dgï:¥À.¥ÀA.C.G.ZÀÄ:01/2025-26 dated 29.09.2025 issued by the respondent No.2 to elect the President and Vice- President of Ajjampura Town Panchayath. He has sought for a writ in the nature of mandamus to direct the respondent No.2 to conduct elections to the posts of President and Vice-

President of Ajjampura Town Panchayath as per the notification bearing No.UDD-10-MLR-2024(3) dated 05.08.2024.

2. (i) The petitioner is an elected councilor of the Ajjampura Town Panchayath. On 13.04.2020, a notification under sub-clause 28A of Section 2 read with Sections 9 and 355B of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964 (henceforth referred to as 'Act, 1964') was issue