Case Note & Summary
The matter pertains to two writ petitions filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India challenging orders dated 08-10-2025 by the District Registrar of Societies & Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies, and order dated 03-11-2025 by the State Government appointing an Administrator for KEB Engineers Association, as well as subsequent letter and calendar of events for elections. KEB Engineers Association is a society registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960. The petitioners in WP No. 33814/2025 are the existing office bearers of the Association, while the petitioners in WP No. 33855/2025 are two retired engineers. They seek to quash the impugned orders, a declaration that the existing Central Executive Committee is entitled to continue till 31-03-2026 or until a new committee is elected, and permission to hold elections within three months. The backdrop involves the election of the existing committee on 12-10-2022, internal disputes including the removal of the General Secretary, allegations of misappropriation, and a complaint by disgruntled members about the expiry of the term on 11-10-2025. The District Registrar issued a notice on 10-09-2025, and after a reply, passed an order on 08-10-2025 directing steps for election. The petitioners claim they had initiated steps and informed the Registrar. However, on 28-10-2025, a proposal was sent to the Government to appoint an Administrator, which was done on 03-11-2025. The Administrator assumed charge and appointed a Returning Officer who issued a calendar of events for elections on 29-11-2025. The petitioners argue that under Bye-law 12, the existing committee continues until a new committee is elected, and that the financial year ends on 31-03-2026, so the term has not expired. They contend that the orders were passed without hearing them, violating natural justice. The matter was heard and reserved for orders on 20-11-2025, and the court pronounced a CAV Order on 28-11-2025. The available text of the order ends mid-sentence during the senior counsel’s submissions, and no final decision or ratio is included.
Issue of Consideration
Whether the orders passed by the District Registrar and the State Government appointing an Administrator and directing elections are valid; Whether the existing Central Executive Committee is entitled to continue in office till 31-03-2026 as per the bye-laws; Whether the principles of natural justice were violated in the appointment of the Administrator and issuance of election calendar
Case Details
2025 LawText (KAR) (11) 19
Writ Petition No. 33814 of 2025 (GM-KSR) C/W Writ Petition No. 33855 of 2025 (GM-KSR)
M.R. Rajagopal, Sr. Advocate for Shivarama H.C.; Mahesh R. Uppin; B.T. Banuprakash, AAG with B. Ravindranath, AGA; D.R. Ravishankar, Sr. Advocate for Smt. M.L. Suvarna
K Shivanna S/o Kariappa @ Veerabhadregowda and 11 others; Chandranayar G S/o Late Govindanayar and M. Shanmukh S/o Malleshappa
State of Karnataka by its Secretary, Department of Co-operation; District Registrar of Societies & Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies, 4th Zone, Bengaluru; Administrator, KEB Engineers Association (R); Returning Officer, KEB Engineers Association (R); KEB Engineers Association (R)
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Nature of Litigation
Writ petitions under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India challenging orders of the District Registrar of Societies and the State Government appointing an Administrator and directing elections of KEB Engineers Association.
Remedy Sought
Petitioners seek to quash orders dated 08-10-2025 and 03-11-2025, and the letter dated 04-11-2025 and calendar of events dated 05-11-2025; declare that the existing Central Executive Committee is entitled to continue till 31-03-2026 or until a new body is elected; and permit them to hold elections within three months (for WP 33814) or such other order (for WP 33855).
Filing Reason
The District Registrar issued an order on 08.10.2025 directing the Association to conduct elections, and the Government appointed an Administrator on 03.11.2025, overriding the existing committee’s steps, allegedly in violation of natural justice and contrary to the bye-laws which provide for continuation of office till new committee elected.
Previous Decisions
The District Registrar passed order on 08-10-2025 bearing No. DRB-4/SOR-02/23/2025-26; the Government passed order on 03-11-2025 bearing No. CO 297 CSR 2025 appointing an Administrator.
Issues
Whether the orders passed by the District Registrar and the State Government appointing an Administrator and directing elections are valid?
Whether the existing Central Executive Committee is entitled to continue in office till 31-03-2026 as per the bye-laws?
Whether the principles of natural justice were violated in the appointment of the Administrator and issuance of election calendar?
Submissions/Arguments
Petitioners contend that under Bye-law 12, the elected committee continues until a new committee is elected, and their term extends to the financial year ending 31-03-2026.
The District Registrar's order was passed without proper consideration of the petitioners' reply dated 03-10-2025.
The Administrator was appointed and election calendar issued without hearing the petitioners, violating principles of natural justice.
Petitioners had already taken steps to hold elections and informed the Registrar vide letter dated 17-10-2025.
Judgment Excerpts
the term shall be for a period of three years, but they will continue to hold the office till a new Committee is elected in their place
the DRCS had issued a notice on 10.09.2025 to the Petitioners, which was replied to by the Petitioners on 03.10.2025, explaining the delay
Procedural History
Writ petitions filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India; earlier orders by District Registrar on 08-10-2025 and Government on 03-11-2025; hearing held and reserved for orders on 20.11.2025; CAV order pronounced on 28.11.2025.
Acts & Sections
- Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960: Section 2(f)
- Constitution of India: Articles 226, 227
