The Court emphasized that once elections commence, they cannot be postponed unless justified, asserting the importance of conducting elections in accordance with existing bye-laws and ensuring systemic compliance.

ORDER :

SURAJ GOVINDARAJ, J.

1. Petitioner-Karnataka State Cricket Association is before this Court in W.P.No.34890/2025 seeking for the following reliefs:

"a) Issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other Writ, Order or Direction quashing the Letter dated 17.11.2025 sent by the Respondent to the Petitioner (Annexure A).

b) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other Writ, Order or Direction directing the Respondent to fulfil his duties as per the Bye Laws (Annexure C) of the Petitioner and carry on the Election process of the Petitioner in terms of the duly published Election Calendar (Annexure E).

c) Issue such other Writs, Directions or Orders, which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper under the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity."

2. W.P.No.34902/2025 has been filed by one of the members of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (for short 'KSCA') who is a candidate for the elections to be conducted by the KSCA and sought for the following reliefs:

"a) Issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other Writ, Order or Direction quashing the Letter dated 17.11.2025 sent by the Respondent No.1 to the respondent No.2 (Annexure A).

b) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other Writ, Order or Direction directing the Respondent Nos.1 and 2 to fulfill their duties as per the Bye Laws of the Petitioner and carry on the Election process of the 2^nd Respondent in terms of the duly published Election Calendar (Annexure C).

c) Direct the Respondents to pay the costs of this Petition.

c) Issue such other Writs, Directions or Orders, which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper under the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity."

3. Before the matter could be taken up, the intervention applications had been filed in all four in number. I.A.No.1/25 is filed by one of the members who wishes to be a candidate in the ensuing elections. I.A.Nos.2/25, 3/25, and 4/25 have been filed by the present members of the Managing Committee.

4. Essentially, in both matters, the letter issued by the Electoral Officer dated 17.11.2025, postponing the elections from 30.11.2025 to 30.12.2025, is under challenge.

5. The submission of Sri.Udaya Holla, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner in W.P.No.34890/2025 and Sri. Jayakumar.S.Patil, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner in W.P.No.34902/2025, is that the election once commenced could not be postponed, and as such, the election would have to be held on the fixed date. Apart therefrom, various submissions have been made as regards the interpretation of Bylaw 6A(ii)(e) and Bylaw 6B(2)(i)(e)(g) of KSCA and in that regard, reference has been made to various judgments of the Hon'ble Apex Court.

6. Sri. Arun Kumar, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the intervener in I.A.No.2/2025 has also made references to the very same judgments which were relied upon by the learned Senior Counsels appearing for the petitioners and seeks to provide his interpretation to the aforesaid clauses. The counsels appearing in the other intervening applications adopt the submissions of Shri Arun Kumar, learned Senior Counsel.

7. Upon a specific query posed by this Court to the learned counsel appearing on all sides as to whether they desired an interpretation or adjudication on the clauses above, all learned counsel representing the intervenors unequivocally stated that they do not seek any ruling, clarification, or interpretation of the said clauses from this Court. Conversely, the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the