IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 16^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK S. KINAGI WRIT PETITION NO. 100552 OF 2026 (CS-EL/M)

BETWEEN:

1. SHRI ARAVINDAPPA S/O GULAPPA GUDI AGED 70 YEARS, OCC AGRICULTURE, RESIDING AT SORATUR VILLAGE, SHIRHATTI, GADAG 582120

2. SHRI. RAJESAB S/O FAKKIRSAB BABUKHANNAVAR AGED. 60 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, RESIDING AT SORATUR VILLAGE, SHIRHATTI, GADAG 582120.

3. SHRI. CHANDRAPPA S/O RAMAPPA MALLADAV, AGED. 58 YEARS, Digitally signed by OCC. AGRICULTURE, VIJAYALAKSHMI M KANKUPPI RESIDING AT SORATUR VILLAGE, Location: HIGH SHIRHATTI, GADAG 582120.

COURT OF KARNATAKA

4. SHRI. MAHADEVAPPA S/O SHIVAPPA ADRAKATTI, AGED. 55 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, RESIDING AT SORATUR VILLAGE, SHIRHATTI, GADAG 582120.

5. SHRI. KARIYAPPA S/O HUCCHAPPA JANGWAD, AGE. 58 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, RESIDING AT SORATUR, SHIRHATTI, GADAG 582120 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SURAJ S MUTNAL, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, 6^TH FLOOR, M S BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001

2. THE STATE CO-OPERATIVE ELECTION COMMISSION, REP BY ITS COMMISSIONER, 3^RD FLOOR, SHANTI NAGAR, TTMC, ”A” BLOCK,