Karnataka High Court
WA/1975/2026 of KARNATAKA STATE SOUHARDA FEDERAL Vs DR. VIRUPAXI on 31 August 2026
CNR: KAHC010581622026 NC: 2026:KHC:47035-DB WA No. 1975 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 31ST DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT APPEAL NO. 1975 OF 2026 (CS-RES) BETWEEN:
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 31ST DAY OF AUGUST, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA
WRIT APPEAL NO. 1975 OF 2026 (CS-RES)
BETWEEN:
1.
KARNATAKA STATE SOUHARDA FEDERAL
CO-OPERATIVE LTD., HAVING ITS
REGISTERED OFFICE AT, NO.68TH, 18TH CROSS
REP. BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR
SRI SHARANGOUDA
S/O GURUBASAPPA PATIL
AGE 45 YEARS
OCC: MANAGING DIRECTOR
R/O NO.68TH, 18TH CROSS
…APPELLANT
(BY SRI SRINAND ARAVIND PACHAPURE, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1.
DR. VIRUPAXI
S/O SHIVALINGAPPA SADHUNAVAR
AGE 74 YEARS, OCC: BUSINESS
R/O MRUTYUNJAY NAGAR
TQ: BAILHONGAL
DIST: BELAGAVI - 591 102
Digitally
signed by
VEERENDRA
KUMAR K M
Location:
High Court of
Karnataka
HC-KAR
2.
SHRI KIRAN
S/O VIRUPAXISADHUNAVAR
AGE 47 YEARS, OCC: BUSINESS
R/O MRUTYUNJAY NAGAR
TQ: BAILHONGAL
DIST: BELAGAVI - 591 102
3.
THE REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES
GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA
NO.1, ALI ASKER ROAD, VASANT NAGAR
BENGALURU - 560 001
4.
DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES
(N-441) DAWA PANCHYAT COURT
KARNATAKA RAJAYA SOUHARDA SAMYUKTA
SAHAKARI NIYAMITHA
NO.68, 17TH AND 18TH CROSS
5.
THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY
REP. BY ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
BELAGAVI SUB-DIVISION
BELAGAVI - 590 001
6.
KITTUR RANI CHENNAMMA URBAN CREDIT
SOUHARDA SAHAKARI NIYAMITA
MRUTHANJAYA NAGAR
BELAGAVI ROAD
BAILHONGAL - 591 102
REP. BY ITS CEO/IN-CHARGE
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI KIRAN S. JAVALI, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR
SRI SAMIT PARVATIKAR, ADVOCATE FOR C/R-1 & 2; SRI K.S. HARISH, GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE FOR R-3 TO R-5)
HC-KAR
THIS WRIT APPEAL FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE
KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE
ORDER DATED 04.08.2026 PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE
JUDGE IN WRIT PETITION No.3602/2026 (CS-RES) ON ISSUE OF
MAINTAINABILITY OF THE ABOVE CAPTIONED WRIT PETITION &
ETC.
THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE
and
HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA
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ORAL JUDGMENT
(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)
1. The appellant has filed the present appeal impugning an order dated 04.08.2026 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.No.3602/2026 (CS-RES), whereby the appellant's challenge to the jurisdiction of the Court is rejected.
2. It is the appellant's case that the subject controversy arises in the district of Belagavi, inasmuch as the proceedings have been initiated by the appellant before the Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies in respect of the entire subject matter, records, and accounts originating within the District of Belagavi. Thus, the Dharwad Bench of this Court would have the necessary jurisdiction to entertain the writ petition.
HC-KAR
3. The appellant made a complaint to the Deputy Registrar of Co- operative Societies, Bengaluru regarding certain misconduct in regard to the affairs of Kittur Rani Chennamma Urban Credit Souharda Sahakari Niyamita (respondent No.6), which is operating in Belagavi and an application under Section 37A of the Karnataka Souharda Sahakari Act, 1997 (Surcharge application) was filed.
4. It is stated that all the inspections were conducted in Belagavi. Since the writ petitioner seeks to challenge the action initiated in regard to the said entity (respondent No.6), which is located in Belagavi in addition to the contention that respondent No.6 is located in Belgavi, it is stated that certain directors have filed petitions which are being considered by the Dharwad Bench of this Court. It is in the aforesaid context that the appellant had raised an objection as to the jurisdiction of the learned Single Judge of the Principal Bench to hear the said petitions.
5. The learned Single Judge noted that part of the cause of action arose within the jurisdiction of this Court. The order which is sought to be impugned in this writ petition was passed by the Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies which is located in Bengaluru.
HC-KAR
The writ petitioner had also challenged the proceedings that were initiated by the appellant before the concerned authority in Bengaluru.
6. In view of the above, the learned Single Judge rejected the petitioner’s contention that the Court did not have any jurisdiction to entertain the petition.
7. We find no infirmity with the said order. Insofar as the contention that there would be different Courts dealing with connected matters is concerned, the same is a matter of forum conveniens and not the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain the petition. It is also open for the appellant to avail of appropriate remedy to seek clubbing of the said petitions. However, we are unable to accept that the Single Judge sitting at Principal Bench does not have jurisdiction to entertain the same.
8. The appeal is dismissed with the aforesaid observations.
9. Pending applications stand disposed of.
Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE
Sd/- (K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE KMV/List No.: 2 Sl No.: 13