Authority: High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati (Special Original Jurisdiction)

Order Date: 24 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Petition No. 20338 of 2026 filed by Bommdi Venkateswara Rao, Vice‑President of Peravali Fishermen Cooperative Society Ltd, under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking a writ of certiorari to quash the Preliminary Voters List dated 10‑07‑2026 and to direct consideration of objections dated 17‑07‑2026.
  • Respondents: State of Andhra Pradesh (Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries), Commissioner of Fisheries, District Fisheries Officer/Assistant Director of Fisheries (Bapatla), Election Officer of Peravali Fishermen Cooperative Society, and the Society itself represented by its Secretary.
  • The petitioner alleged that 18 eligible voters were omitted from the list, that the Election Officer rejected his objections without reasons (endorsed by District Fisheries Officer in Rc.No.948/C/2025 dated 13‑07‑2026), violating Articles 14, 21, 300‑A and principles of natural justice (SI Nos. 16‑27).
  • Respondents contended that the omitted members were not genuine, having been admitted by the Management Committee through irregular “back‑door” procedures, and therefore not entitled to vote.
  • The petition also sought to dispense with the certified copy of the voters list dated 17‑07‑2026, accept a photocopy, and to have the final list prepared in accordance with audited membership records for FY 2024‑25 and Proceedings Rc.No.2670924/C/2025 dated 07‑04‑2026.

Final Outcome

  • The Court held that the impugned order was cryptic, lacked reasoning, and denied the petitioner an opportunity to be heard; consequently, the order was set aside.
  • The matter was remanded to the Election Officer to consider the objections dated 17‑07‑2026, conduct a reasoned hearing, and finalize the voters list in line with the audited 2024‑25 membership records.
  • The writ petition was disposed of without any order as to costs.
  • All other miscellaneous petitions, if any, were ordered to stand closed.

Topics: Cooperative Society Election, Constitutional Law