IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ ELECTION PETITION NO. 20 OF 2023 BETWEEN:

MR. D.N. JEEVARAJA AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, SON OF G.T. NARAYANA GOWDA, RESIDING AT: NO.23, DWARAMAKKI, BADAGABAYLU VILLAGE, B.H. KAIMARA POST, NARASAIMHARAJAPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU-577 134.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. M.S.SHYAM SUNDAR, SENIOR COUNSEL ALONG WITH MS.Dr.VANDANA P.L., SRI RISHI N. UMESH AND MS. YUKTHA N., ADVOCATES)

AND:

Digitally 1. MR. T.D. RAJEGOWDA signed by SON OF DEVEGOWDA, HEMALATHA J AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, Location:

HIGH COURT RESIDING AT: BASAPURA-KADAVANTE POST, OF CHIKKAMAGALURU (T), KARNATAKA CHIKKAMAGALURU-577 136.

2. MR. SUDHAKAR. S. SHETTY SON OF T.K. SANJEEVA SHETTY, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, RESIDING AT TUMAKHANE KODURU POST, SHANUVALLI KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU -577 126. 3. MR. RAJAN GOWDA H.S.

SON OF SRINIVAS GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, RESIDING AT: HORABAILU, DHAREKOPPA POST, BELANDUR VILLAGE, SRINGERI TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU-577 139.

4. MR. K.M. GOPALA SON OF MANJAIAH, RESIDING AT: KARUVANE, HONNAVALLI POST, SRINGERI TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU-577 139.

5. MR. M.K. DAYANDA MAVINKERE SON OF A.T. KRISHNAIAH GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 74 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO. 726, NERALEKOPPA MAVINKERE, SHETTYKOPPA POST, NARASIMHARAJAPURA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU-577 134.

6. MR. UMESH. B.A. @ COMRADE UMESH B.A.

SON OF AJAGAIAH, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, RESIDING AT BOGASE (V), BOGASE POST, KHANDYA HOBLI, CHIKKAMAGALURU TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU-577 130.

7. MS. K.R. KUSUMA DAUGHTER OF K.R. RAMAIAH, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, RESIDING AT: SUBASH ROAD, KOPPA TOWN, KOPPA POST, KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU-577 126.

8. MR. ABRAHAM SON OF KUKRA NUHA, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, RESIDING AT: CHIKKANAGUNDI, HARANDURU VILLAGE, KOPPA POST, CHIKKAMAGALURU-577 126.

9. MRS. G. BHARATHI WIFE OF SUBDAR RAJ, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, RESIDING AT: NO. 86, DR. RAJKUMAR ROAD, NEAR FAMILY FOOD CENTRE, BTS LAYOUT AREKERE, BANGALORE SOUTH-560 076.

10. MR. NARAYANA SON OF LATE ANGU, AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, RESIDING AT: DHAREKOPPA, KULURU, KOPPA TALUK, CHIKKAMAGALURU-577 126. 11. MR. ELIYAZ AHAMMAD SON OF RIYAZ AHAMMED S. Y., AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS, RESIDING AT: GORIGANDI, DEVADANA VILLAGE, SANGAMESHWARAPETE (P), CHIKKAMAGALURU-577 136.

12. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA NIRVACHAN SADAN, ASHOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI-110001.

REPRESENTED BY CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER.

DELETED VIDE COURT ORDER DATED 04.09.2023 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K.N.PHANINDRA, SENIOR COUNSEL ALONG WITH SRI. ASHWIN C. SRI PARITOSH S.M., SRI ROHAN HOSMATH, SRI ABHISHEK GOWDA A.H, MS.KEERTHI REDDY AND SRI ABHISHEK KUMAR, ADVOCATES FOR RESPONDENT NO.1;

SRI. GANAPATI BHAT VAJRALLI, ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT NO.2; SRI. G.R.PRAVEEN KUMAR AND SRI G. SHIVKUMAR, ADVOCATES FOR RESPONDENT NO.4;

SRI. G. DEVARAJEGOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT NO.11;

NOTICE SERVED ON RESPONDENT NOS.3, 5, 7, 8;

VIDE ORDER DATED 06.12.2023, NOTICE/S TO RESPONDENT NOS.6 AND 10 IS/ARE SERVED;

VIDE ORDER DATED 12.02.2024, SERVICE OF NOTICE TO RESPONDENT NO.9 IS HELD SUFFICIENT)

THIS ELECTION PETITION IS PRESENTED UNDER SECTION 81 OF THE REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE ACT, 1951, BY SRI D.N. JEEVARAJA - PETITIONER ALONG WITH HIS COUNSELS DR. VANDANA P.L. AND SRI RISHI N. UMESH (ADVOCATE FOR PETITIONER) BEFORE THE I/C REGISTRAR (JUDICIAL) ON 27.06.2023 THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE CHALLENGING THE ELECTION OF RESPONDENT NO.1 - MR. T.D. RAJEGOWDA AS RETURNING CANDIDATE FROM 123-SRINGERI ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCY, 2023 TO THE KARNATAKA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2023, AND THE PETITIONER PRAYS TO A) DECLARE THAT THE DECLARATION OF THE ELECTION OF THE RESPONDENT NO.1 AS RETURNING CANDIDATE FROM 123, SRINGERI ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCY, AS VOID AS PER THE PROVISIONS OF THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT, 1951 AND THE HANDBOOK FOR RETURNING OFFICER ISSUED BY THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA; FOR THE REASONS OF MALPRACTICES, ELECTION OFFENCES, UNETHICAL ACTS AND INDULGENCES AND SUCH OTHER REASONS AS MAY BE NOTED BY THE HON'BLE COURT AND B). ALTERNATIVELY ORDER FOR RECOUNTING OF