Karnataka HC: Voters Can’t Seek Cooperative Society Voter List if Law Requires Publishing Ineligible Names

Quick Summary

• Karnataka high Court ruled that eligible voting members of cooperative societies cannot demand a list of other eligible voting members.
• Under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Rules, 1960, societies are required to publish only the list of ineligible voters.
• The court emphasized that electoral rolls are prepared specifically during elections and cannot be disclosed earlier just for campaign planning purposes.
• Justice Suraj Govindaraj dismissed a petition filed by H.M. Vishwanath and others who sought provisional voter lists from cooperative societies in Tumakuru district for campaign planning.
• It was noted that concerns about being listed as an ineligible voter must be addressed by the affected individual through established remedies rather than third-party petitions.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The judgment underscores the importance of adhering to procedural integrity within cooperative society operations and election processes. By restricting access to eligible voter lists prior to elections, it ensures privacy while minimizing potential misuse for campaign strategies. This is significant in maintaining fairness and openness within grassroots democratic institutions like cooperative societies.

However, by making recourse available directly only to individuals listed as ineligible voters-rather than allowing external advocacy-it reinforces personal accountability under existing rules. While this approach may prevent unsolicited interference, it could pose challenges for those unfamiliar with legal procedures or reluctant to pursue remedies individually.

This ruling reflects an effort toward balancing transparency with procedural regulation but raises broader questions about inclusivity in accessing member data without contravening electoral protocols.

Read more: Link