The court affirmed the statutory obligation of the authority to consider promotion requests under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Rules, emphasizing timely decisions.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH FRIDAY, THE 20^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026 / 1ST PHALGUNA, 1947 WP(C) NO. 2264 OF 2026 PETITIONERS: 1 MANJU M AGED 35 YEARS D/O MOHANAN.P., ATTENDER, ELAMPAL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD.NO. 604, ELAMPAL P.O., KOLLAM, RESIDING AT TANNITHADAM PUTHEN VEEDU, ELICODE, ELAMPAL.P.O., KOLLAM, PIN - 691322

2 VISAKH S UNNITHAN AGED 35 YEARS S/O SUKUMARAN UNNITHAN.R, PEON, ELAMPAL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD.NO. 604, ELAMPAL.P.O. KOLLAM RESIDING AT SREE KRISHNA BHAVAN, MANJAKALA, AVANEESWARAM.P.O.

KOLLAM., PIN - 691508

3 DEEPTHI RAJ AGED 38 YEARS D/O RAJAN PILLAI.N.P., PEON ELAMPAL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD.NO. 604, ELAMPAL.P.O. KOLLAM RESIDING AT KULANGARA VALIYA VEEDU, AVANEESWARAM.P.O., KOLLAM., PIN - 691508

4 AKHILA KRISHNAN AGED 35 YEARS D/O K. KRISHNANKUTTY NAIR, PEON, ELAMPAL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD.NO. 604, ELAMPAL.P.O. KOLLAM RESIDING AT LEKSHMI, NEELESWARAM.P.O., KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM, PIN - 691506

5 SANTHI A AGED 33 YEARS D/O MOHANA KUMAR.N. PEON, ELAMPAL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD.NO. 604, ELAMPAL.P.O. KOLLAM RESIDING AT KIZHAKKE PARAKKAL VEEDU, VILAKKUDY.P.O., KUNNICODE, KOLLAM., PIN - 691322

6 NITHIN RAJ AGED 36 YEARS S/O RAJENDRAN NAIR PEON, ELAMPAL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD.NO. 604, ELAMPAL.P.O., KOLLAM RESIDING AT PUTHIYAVILA PUTHEN VEEDU, KAMUKUMCHERRY, KARIYARA.P.O., KOLLAM, PIN - 691332 BY ADVS.

SRI.PRAKASH MATHEW SRI.PIRAPPANCODE V.S.SUDHIR RESPONDENTS:

1 THE JOINT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (G), OFFICE OF THE JOINT REGISTRAR OF CO-

OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, CIVIL STATION, KOLLAM, PIN - 691013

2 THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (G), OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, MINI CIVIL STATION, PUNALUR, KOLLAM, PIN - 691305

3 ELAMPAL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD.NO. 604 ELAMPAL.P.O., PUNALUR, KOLLAM REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PIN - 691322

4 THE MANAGING COMMITTEE OF THE ELAMPAL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD.NO. 604 ELAMPAL.P.O., PUNALUR, KOLLAM REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, PIN - 691322

5 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN – 695001 BY ADVS.

SRI.V. VENUGOPAL, GOVERNMENT PLEADER THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 20.02.2026, ALONG WITH WP(C).5286/2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH FRIDAY, THE 20^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026 / 1ST PHALGUNA, 1947 WP(C) NO. 5286 OF 2026 PETITIONER:

ELAMPAL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD.NO. 604 ELAMPAL.P.O., PUNALUR, KOLLAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY IN CHARGE, PIN - 691322 BY ADVS.

SRI.B.S.SWATHI KUMAR SRI.HARISANKAR N UNNI RESPONDENTS:

1 THE JOINT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (G), CIVIL STATION, KACHERI.P.O., KOLLAM, PIN - 691013

2 THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (G)

MINI CIVIL STATION, PUNALUR.P.O, KOLLAM, PIN - 695305 3 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF CO-OPERATION, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIATE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001 BY ADV.

SRI.V. VENUGOPAL, GOVERNMENT PLEADER THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 20.02.2026, ALONG WITH WP(C).2264/2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

JUDGMENT Dated this the 20^th day of February, 2026 [W.P.(C) Nos.2264 and 5286 of 2026]

W.P.(C) No.5286 of 2026 has been filed by the Elampal Service Co-operative Bank Limited seeking the following reliefs:

“(i) To declare that the 3^rd respondent is statutorily and legally bound to consider and pass orders on Ext.P9 within a time framed by this Hon’ble Court;

(ii) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, or direction commanding compelling the 3^rd respond