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Judgment
N.Nagaresh, J
The petitioner, who is a member of the Chokli Peoples Welfare Co-operative Society Limited and who was President of the Society for the period from 2018 to 2023, has approached this Court seeking to direct respondents 1 to 3 to provide adequate police protection to the members and voters of the Chokli Peoples Welfare Co-operative Society Limited to cast their vote in the election scheduled on 25.03.2023 at the office of the Society at Chokli.
The election to the Managing Committee of the additional 7th respondent-Society, Chokli is scheduled to be held on 25.03.2023. Respondents 4 and 5 are not members of the Society. But, they are trying to gather large number of people at the place of election in order to hijack the election. A fearless election cannot be conducted without adequate police protection. Though the petitioner has submitted Ext.P4 representation, the police is not likely to assist the Society to maintain law and order, contends the petitioner.
The additional 7th respondent-Society entered appearance through counsel and submitted that election to the governing body of the Society is scheduled to be held on 25.03.2023. There is a strong likelihood of law and order issue. Therefore, unless respondents 1 to 3 deploy sufficient numbers of police personnel, there is likelihood of law and order problems.
Government Pleader entered appearance on behalf of respondents 1 to 3 and submitted that since it is an election to a Co-operative Society, in the normal course, the police will be deploying police personnel for peaceful conduct of the election.
I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Pleader representing respondents 1 to 3 and 6 and the learned counsel for the additional 7th respondent. In view of the nature of the relief to be granted in the writ petition, notice to respondents 4 and 5 is dispensed with.
The additional 7th respondent is Chokli Peoples Welfare Co-operative Society. The election to the Managing Committee of the Society is scheduled to be held on 25.03.2023. The petitioner as well as the 7th respondent apprehends law and order issues due to political rivalry during the election.
In the circumstances, it will be only just and proper that respondents 1 to 3 deploy adequate number of police personnel to the venue of election in order to maintain law and order.
The writ petition is therefore disposed of directing the 1st respondent to deploy adequate number of police personnel to the office of the Chokli Peoples Welfare Co-operative Society, where election to its governing body is scheduled to be held on 25.03.2023 to maintain law and order. Police protection shall be given for the conduct of election and for the counting process also.