wp5666.07.sxw 1/19
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR
WRIT PETITION NO. 5666 OF 2007
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Urban
Co-operative Bank Ltd.,
Irwin Chowk, Amravati,
through its In-charge Managing Director. :: PETITIONER
-: Versus :-
1. The State Information Commissioner,
Vidarbha Region, Nagpur and the
2nd Appellate Authority having its office
at Commissionerate, Nagpur.
2. First Appellate Authority and
the Commissioner of Co-operation and
Registrar of Co-operative Societies,
Maharashtra State, New Secretariat Bldg.,
Pune - 1.
3. Gajanan s/o Madhaorao Wankhede,
aged adult, R/o 8, Samartha Colony-B,
Post Rukmini Nagar, Amravati.
4. The State of Maharashtra,
Department of Co-operation,
Mantralaya, Annex, Mumbai,
through its Secretary. :: RESPONDENTS
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Shri U. S. Dastane, Advocate for the Petitioner.
Shri A. D. Sonak, A. G. P. for respondent Nos. 1, 2 & 4.
None for respondent No. 3.
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CORAM: J. H. BHATIA, J.
DATED: 13TH JANUARY, 2009.
JUDGMENT
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1. As per order dated 07/7/2008 the parties were put to
notice that petition would be disposed of at the admission stage and
the parties were also directed to file brief submissions in support of
their contentions, which they have done. However, none appears for
respondent No. 3. Heard Mr. Dastane, learned Counsel for the
petitioner and Mr. Sonak, learned Assistant Government Pleader
for respondent Nos. 1, 2 and 4.
2. Admittedly, the petitioner is Urban Co-operative Bank
registered under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960
(for short, Societies Act) and is controlled in respect of certain
matters by the Reserve Bank of India under Section 110-A of the
Societies Act and certain provisions of Banking Regulations Act.
Respondent No. 3 is a share holder of the petitioner-Bank. He made
two applications before the Bank on different dates seeking certain
information under the provisions of the Right to Information Act,
2005. Both the applications were rejected by the petitioner
contending that Right to Information Act is not applicable to the
petitioner-Bank, however, he could seek information as per the
provisions of the Societies Act. In view of this, he preferred two
appeals before the Commissioner of Cooperation and Registrar of
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Cooperative Societies, Pune. As the appeals were dismissed, he
preferred second appeal before the Commissioner of State
Information, Vidarbha region. The State Commissioner allowed the
appeals by impugned order dated 19/10/2007 and directed the
petitioner-Bank to supply the information within thirty days and
also directed the petitioner to appoint Information Officer and First
Appellate Officer for the said Bank. The directions given by the said
Information Commissioner are challenged in the present writ
petition.
3. According to the petitioner the Bank is not a “public
authority” within the meaning of Section 2(h) of the Right to
Information Act, and therefore, this Act is not applicable to the
Bank. It is contended that the learned Information Commissioner
has misdirected himself while holding that because there is public
interest in the funds of the Bank, the provisions of the Right to
Information Act should be applicable to the Bank.
4. The learned Counsel for the petitioner vehemently relied
upon the definitions of the “appropriate Government” and a “public
authority” under Section 2(h) to support his contention that the
legislature never intended that the cooperative bank, which is not
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established by the Constitution or Central/State Legislation or the
notification issued by the appropriate Government and it is also not
owned or controlled or financed by the Government shall be
covered by Right to Information Act. In support of this contention
he also placed reliance upon certain authorities from the Supreme
Court as also Full Bench of this High Court.
5. To begin with, The preamble of the Right to Information
Act states that this Act was enacted to provide for setting out the
practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access
to information under the control of public authorities, in order to
promote transparency and accountability in the working of every
public authority. Section 2(a) defines “appropriate Government” as
follows:
✂✁☎✄ ✆✝✁✝✞✟✞☎✠☛✡☞✞✟✠✍✌✎✁✑✏✓✒✕✔✖✡☞✗☎✒✑✠☛✘✟✙✚✒✑✘☎✏✍✛ ✙✚✒✑✁✝✘✢✜✣✌✤✘✥✠✍✒✑✦✎✁✑✏✓✌✤✡✧✘★✏✓✡✩✁
✞✟✪✟✫✟✦✤✌✤✬ ✁✝✪☎✏✓✭✮✡☞✠☛✌✯✏✓✰ ✱✖✭✢✌✤✬✲✭ ✌✎✜ ✒✑✜✳✏✓✁✝✫✟✦✤✌✎✜✴✭✢✒✑✵✷✶ ✬✸✡✧✘✟✜✳✏✓✌✯✏✓✪✟✏✓✒✑✵✹✶
✡☞✱✖✘✟✒✝✵✹✶✺✬✲✡☞✘✟✏✓✠✍✡✧✦✤✦✤✒✝✵ ✡✧✠✻✜✴✪✟✫✟✜✳✏✓✁✝✘☎✏✓✌✎✁✑✦✎✦✤✰ ✼✽✌✤✘✢✁✝✘✟✬✸✒✝✵ ✫✟✰ ✼✽✪✟✘✢✵☎✜
✞✟✠✍✡☞✗☎✌✎✵☎✒✑✵✾✵☎✌✎✠✍✒✑✬✸✏✓✦✤✰✿✡✧✠❀✌✤✘✢✵☎✌✤✠☛✒✑✬✸✏✓✦✤✰❂❁
❃✌❄✄ ✫✟✰ ✏✓✭✮✒ ❅❆✒✑✘☎✏✓✠☛✁✝✦ ✔✖✡✧✗☎✒✑✠✍✘✢✙✚✒✑✘☎✏ ✡✧✠ ✏✓✭✢✒ ❇❈✘✢✌✤✡✧✘
✏✓✒✑✠✍✠✍✌✤✏✓✡☞✠☛✰✿✁✝✵☎✙✚✌✤✘✢✌✤✜✳✏✓✠✍✁✑✏✓✌✤✡✧✘✷✶❉✏✓✭✮✒❊❅❆✒✑✘☎✏✓✠✍✁✝✦❋✔✖✡✧✗●✒✝✠✍✘✟✙✚✒✑✘☎✏✍❍
✂✌✤✌❄✄❀✫☎✰✾✏✓✭✮✒❊■☞✏✓✁✑✏✓✒❊✔✖✡✧✗☎✒✑✠✍✘✢✙✚✒✑✘☎✏✂✶❉✏✓✭✢✒❊■✧✏✓✁✑✏✓✒❊✔✖✡✧✗☎✒✑✠✍✘✟✙✚✒✑✘✟✏✍❍
In view of this definition the appropriate Government
means the Central Government, Union territory administration or
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wp5666.07.sxw 5/19the State Government depending on as to whether the concerned
public authority is established, constituted or controlled or
substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly to the
Central Government, Union territory or the State Government.
Words, “Public Authority” are material in this definition.
Section 2(h) runs as under:
❏❂❑✂▲◆▼ ❖✑✟◗✢❘☎❙✎❚✤❯❲❱✝◗☎❳✓▲✢❨✧❩✍❚✤❳❭❬◆❪ ❫✚❴✝❱✝❵✟❛❜❱✝❵✟❬❝❱✝◗☎❳✓▲✮❨☞❩✍❚✤❳✓❬❝❨✧❩❞❘✟❨☞❡✟❬
❨☞❩
❯✸❨✧❵✟❛✳❳✓❚✤❳✓◗☎❳✓❴✑❡❝✐
❚✤❵✟❛✳❳✓❚✤❳✓◗☎❳✓❚✤❨✧❵ ❨✧❢ ❛✴❴✑❙✎❢ ❣☞❨☞❤☎❴✑❩✍❵✢❫✚❴✑❵☎❳ ❴✑❛✳❳✓❱✝❘✟❙✤❚✎❛✴▲✢❴✑❡ ❨☞❩
❑✂❱☎▼❥❘✟❬✿❨☞❩✣◗✟❵✟❡✟❴✑❩❥❳✓▲✢❴❧❦♠❨✧❵✟❛✳❳✓❚✤❳❭◗✟❳✓❚✤❨✧❵❂♥
❑✂❘❂▼❥❘✟❬✿❱✝❵✟❬✿❨♦❳✓▲✮❴✑❩❀❙✎❱✝♣ ❫✚❱✝❡✟❴❊❘☎❬✿qr❱✝❩✍❙✎❚✤❱✝❫✚❴✑❵☎❳✍♥
❑✂❯☞▼❀❘☎❬✿❱✝❵✢❬✿❨♦❳✓▲✮❴✑❩❀❙✤❱✝♣ ❫✚❱✝❡✟❴❊❘☎❬✿s✧❳✓❱✑❳✓❴❊t✉❴✑❣☞❚✤❛✴❙✎❱✑❳✓◗✟❩✍❴●♥
❑❃❡✈▼ ❘✟❬ ❵✟❨☞❳✓❚✤❢✽❚✎❯✸❱✑❳✓❚✎❨☞❵ ❚✤❛✴❛✴◗✢❴✑❡ ❨✧❩ ❨✧❩✍❡✟❴✑❩ ❫✚❱✝❡✟❴ ❘✟❬ ❳✓▲✮❴
❱✝✟☎❩☛❨☞✟❩✍❚✤❱✑❳✓❴❊✇①❨☞❤☎❴✑❩☛❵✟❫✚❴✑❵☎❳✂②③❱✝❵✢❡✺❚✤❵✢❯✸❙✎◗✟❡✟❴✑❛④❱✝❵✟❬✥✐
❑✂❚❄▼ ❘✟❨✧❡☎❬✩❨☞♣✖❵✟❴✑❡✷②③❯✲❨☞❵✟❳✓❩✍❨☞❙✎❙✤❴✑❡✾❨✧❩❀❛✴◗✟❘✟❛✳❳✓❱✝❵☎❳✓❚✤❱✝❙✎❙✤❬✿❢✽❚✎❵✟❱✝❵✟❯✲❴✑❡❂♥
❑✂❚✤❚❭▼⑤❵✟❨✧❵✈✐✴✇✖❨✧❤☎❴✑❩✍❵✢❫✚❴✑❵☎❳❞❨☞❩✍❣☞❱✝❵✟❚✎❛✴❱✑❳✓❚✤❨✧❵⑥❛✴◗✟❘✟❛✳❳✓❱✝❵☎❳✓❚✤❱✝❙✎❙✤❬⑦❢✽❚✤❵✟❱✝❵✢❯✸❴✑❡✷②
❡☎❚✎❩✍❴✑❯✸❳✓❙✤❬ ❨✧❩ ❚✎❵✟❡✟❚✤❩✍❴✑❯✸❳✓❙✤❬ ❘✟❬ ❢✽◗✟❵✢❡☎❛ ✟❩✍❨✧❤☎❚✤❡✟❴✑❡ ❘✟❬ ❳✓▲✢❴
❱✝✟☎❩☛❨☞✟❩✍❚✤❱✑❳✓❴❊✇①❨☞❤☎❴✑❩☛❵✟❫✚❴✑❵☎❳❃⑧
Admittedly, the petitioner-Bank was not established or
constituted under the constitution or any enactment of Parliament
or State Legislature or by any notification or order by the
Government. It is also admitted that the petitioner-Bank is not
owned or substantially financed by the State Government. Even if it
is treated as a Non-Government organisation, it is not substantially
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wp5666.07.sxw 6/19financed by the Government. The only question which needs to be
considered is whether the petitioner-Bank is controlled by the State
Government as admittedly, it is not controlled by the Central
Government.
6. The learned Counsel for the petitioner vehemently
contended that the petitioner is Cooperative Bank registered under
the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act and for the proper
functioning of the same as per provisions of law, the Commissioner
of Cooperative Societies and the Registrar and other functionaries
under the Registrar have some control on all the Cooperative
societies, including the Cooperative Banks. Registrar is a statutory
authority and his orders may be challenged before the Government
by way of appeal or revision and the Government has only statutory
control for the purpose that cooperative societies are functioning as
per the provisions of law and public interest and they are not
deviated from the cooperative spirit for which they have been
established. Otherwise, neither the Government nor any its officer
has any direct control in the administration of the Bank.
7. Admittedly not a single Director on the Board of Directors
is appointed by the Government. All the Directors are elected by the
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wp5666.07.sxw 7/19share holders of the petitioner-Bank. In Shamrao Vithal Co-
operative Bank Ltd. & another Vs. Padubidri Pattabhiram Bhat &
another – 1993 Mh. L. J. -1 question was whether writ petition
would lie against the Cooperative Bank and for that purpose it had
become necessary to find out whether the Bank is a “State” or “State
instrumentality” within the meaning of Article 12 of the
Constitution of India. The following issue was referred to the Full
Bench for determination;
⑨✑⑩✕❶✢❷✑❸✓❶✢❷✑❹ ❺✕❻✲❼✮❽✂❼☞❾✟❷✑❹✍❺✑❸✓❿✎➀●❷❲➁✴❼✧❻✸❿✎❷✲❸✓➂★❹✍❷✑➃☞❿✤➁✳❸✓❷✝❹✍❷✑➄➆➅✟➇✢➄☎❷✑❹
❸✓❶✢❷❲❾☎❹☛❼☞➀☎❿✤➁✴❿✎❼☞➇✢➁➈❼☞➉❞❸✓❶✢❷❊➊❞❺✝❶✢❺✝❹✍❺✝➁✴❶✢❸✓❹✍❺❊➋♠❼✹❽✴❼✧❾✟❷✑❹✍❺✑❸✓❿✤➀☎❷❲➌●❼☞❻✲❿✤❷✑❸✓❿✤❷✑➁
➍ ❻➎❸✂➏ ➐➎➑●➒●➓ ❺✝➇✟➄ ➅✢➇✟➄✟❷✑❹ ❸✓❶✮❷ ➊❜➅✢➔✯❸✓❿→➌☞❸✓❺✑❸✓❷ ➋❆❼✹❽✴❼✧❾✟❷✑❹✍❺✑❸✓❿✤➀☎❷
➌✧❼✧❻✸❿✎❷✲❸✓❿✤❷✑➁ ➍ ❻✸❸✂➏ ➐➎➑✢➣♦↔ ➉✽❺✝➔✎➔✤➁ ↕✖❿✯❸✓❶✮❿✤➇ ❸✓❶✮❷ ❷✑➙✟❾☎❹☛❷✑➁✴➁✴❿✤❼✧➇
⑨✑➌✧❸✓❺✑❸✓❷●➛ ➅✟➇✟➄✟❷✑❹ ➍ ❹➜❸✓❿✤❻✲➔✤❷ ➐➞➝ ❼✧➉ ❸✓❶✢❷ ➋❆❼☞➇✢➁✳❸✓❿✯❸✓➅☎❸✓❿✤❼✧➇ ❼✧➉
➟ ➇✢➄☎❿✤❺✧➠✎➛
After referring to the provisions of the Mah. Cooperative
Societies Act as also Multi State Cooperative Societies Act under
which Shamrao Vithal Cooperative Bank was registered, the Full
Bench drafted the question whether merely because a public
function was being discharged by the cooperative Bank, it amounts
to a “State”. The Full Bench observed as follows in para 19.
⑨ ➟ ❸➡❿✤➁✍➏➢❶✢❼✧↕✖❷✑➀☎❷✑❹✽➏✚➁✴➅✟➤✟➥✚❿✯❸❭❸✓❷✑➄★❸✓❶✢❺✑❸❥❺✾❻✸❼✹❽✴❼✧❾✟❷✑❹✍❺✑❸✓❿✤➀☎❷➦➤✟❺✝➇✟➧r➏
❺✝➁➨❿✎➇ ❸✓❶✢❷➩❾☎❹☛❷✑➁✴❷✑➇☎❸✩❻✸❺✝➁✴❷☞➏➫❾✟❷✑❹✍➉✽❼✧❹✍➥✚➁➨❺✝➇ ❿✤➥✚❾✟❼☞❹➜❸✓❺✝➇✟❸✩❾☎➅✢➤☎➔✎❿✤❻
➉✽➅✟➇✢❻➎❸✓❿✎❼☞➇⑦❺✝➇✟➄➭❸✓❶✮❺✑❸✣❿✤❸❭➁✴❷✝➔✤➉➦❿✤➁➯➁✴➅✟➉✽➉➞❿✤❻✲❿✤❷✑➇☎❸➲➉✽❼✧❹⑤❻✲❼☞➥✚❿✎➇✟➃➆❸✓❼➳❸✓❶✢❷
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wp5666.07.sxw 8/19➵✸➸✧➺✟➵✲➻✤➼✢➽✴➾✤➸✧➺✻➚✓➪✮➶✑➚⑤➾✯➚➹➾✤➽ ➘✝➴☞➚✓➶✑➚✓➷●➬ ➼✟➺✢➮☎➷✑➱➨✃❈➱➜➚✓➾✤➵✲➻✤➷ ❐➞❒✷❮❀❰Ï➚❲➾✤➽
➽✴➼✟Ð✟Ñ✚➾✯➚❭➚✓➷✑➮ Ð✟➷✑Ò✽➸✧➱✍➷ ➼✢➽ ➚✓➪✢➶✑➚ ➾✤➺ ➶ Ó✖➷✑➻✎Ò✽➶✝➱✍➷ ➴☞➚✓➶✑➚✓➷ ➚✓➪✢➷
➮☎➷✝Ò✽➾✤➺✟➾✤➚✓➾✤➸✧➺ ➸☞Ò ➘✝Ô♦➸✧Õ☎➷✑➱✍➺✟Ñ✚➷✝➺☎➚✓➶✝➻ Ò✽➼✟➺✢➵➎➚✓➾✎➸☞➺r➬ ➪✢➶✝➽ ➚✓➸ Ð✟➷
Ó✖➾✤➮☎➷✝➺✟➷✑➮➳➚✓➸✩➾✤➺✟➵✲➻✤➼✢➮☎➷✺Ó✖➾✯➚✓➪✮➾✤➺⑦➾✯➚✓➽❜➽✴➵✲➸☞Ö✟➷➦➶✝➻✎➻×Ò✽➼✢➺✟➵✸➚✓➾✤➸☞➺✢➽❞Ó✖➪✮➾✤➵✸➪
➶✝➱✍➷ ➸☞Ò Ö✟➼✟Ð✟➻✤➾✤➵ ➾✎ÑØÖ✟➸✧➱➜➚✓➶✝➺✟➵✲➷☞❮ Ù①➷✑➺✟➵✲➷ ➶✝➺✟Ú ➸✧➱✍Ô☞➶✝➺✟➾✤➽✴➶✑➚✓➾✤➸✧➺
Ó✖➪✢➾✤➵✲➪ Ö✟➷✑➱☛Ò✽➸☞➱☛Ñ✚➽✩➶→Ö✟➼✢Ð☎➻✎➾✤➵ÛÒ➞➼✟➺✟➵✸➚✓➾✤➸✧➺ Ñ✚➼✟➽✳➚➦Ð✟➷Ü➵✸➸✧➺✟➽✴➾✤➮✟➷✑➱✍➷✝➮
➶✝➽➆➴☞➚✓➶✑➚✓➷➩➼✟➺✟➮✟➷✑➱✥✃❈➱➜➚✓➾✤➵✲➻✤➷ ❐➞❒✹❮ ❰Ý➺ ➸☞➼✢➱➳Õ●➾✎➷✑Ó➢Þ❞➚✓➪✢➾✤➽★➾✤➽✿➚✓➸✧➸
Ð✟➱✍➸☞➶✝➮ ➶ßÖ✟➱✍➸✧Ö✟➸☞➽✴➾✯➚✓➾✎➸☞➺✈❮ à➹➷Ü➪✢➶✝Õ☎➷á➚✓➸ Ð✟➷✑➶✝➱➨➾✎➺ Ñ✚➾✤➺✢➮ ➚✓➪✢➷
➺✟➸☞➚✓➷➆➸☞Ò➹➵✲➶✝➼☎➚✓➾✤➸✧➺â➽✴➸✧➼✟➺✢➮☎➷✑➮ãÐ☎Ú⑦➚✓➪✮➷➆➴✧➼✢Ö☎➱☛➷✑Ñ✚➷➆ä❆➸☞➼✢➱➜➚➲➾✎➺⑦➚✓➪✢➷
➵✸➶✝➽✴➷✝➽å➸✧Ò
Ajay Hasia (supra) and Tekraj Vasandi (re, the Institute➸☞➱☛Ô♦➶✝➺✢➾✤➽✴➶✑➚✓➾✤➸✧➺✻Ó✖➪✢➾✤➵✲➪
of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies
➵✸➶✝➱✍➱☛➾✤➷✑➽✺➸✧➼☎➚✕➶ãÒ✽➼✟➺✢➵➎➚✓➾✎➸☞➺
➽✴➼✟Ö✟➱✍➶☎æ✽❮Óè➪✮➾✤➵✲➪
ç✉Õ☎➷✑➱✍Ú➾✎➽✺➸✧Ò
Ö✟➼✟Ð✟➻✤➾✤➵ ➾✎Ñ✚Ö☎➸✧➱➜➚✓➶✝➺✟➵✲➷ ➮☎➸✧➷✑➽ ➺✟➸♦➚ ➺✟➷✑➵✲➷✑➽✴➽✴➶✝➱✍➾✤➻✎Ú Ð✟➷✑➵✸➸✧Ñ✚➷
➘✑➴✧➚✓➶✑➚✓➷●➬ ➼✢➺✟➮☎➷✝➱ ✃❈➱➜➚✓➾✎➵✸➻✎➷ ❐➞❒✹❮ ä♠➸✧➺✟Ò➞➷✑➱✍Ñ✚➷✑➺☎➚ ➸✧Ò
➘✑➴✧➚✓➶✑➚✓➷✑➪✢➸✧➸✧➮✈➬ ➮✟➷✑Ö✟➷✑➺✟➮✟➽➯➼✟Ö✟➸☞➺⑦Õ☎➶✝➱✍➾✤➸✧➼✟➽➫➸☞➚✓➪✢➷✝➱❊Ò✽➶✝➵✸➚✓➸✧➱✍➽❊➶✝➻✎➽✴➸✟Þ
➽✴➼✟➵✲➪➳➶✝➽✣➚✓➪✢➷➦➺✢➷✑é☎➼✢➽❜➸☞Ò❲➽✴➼✟➵✲➪➳➸✧➱✍Ô☞➶✝➺✟➾✤➽✴➶✑➚✓➾✎➸☞➺✟➽❜Óè➾✤➚✓➪➳➚✓➪✢➷➦➴✧➚✓➶✑➚✓➷♦Þ
➚✓➪✢➷ ➷✑é●➚✓➷✑➺✟➚ ➸☞Ò ➴☞➚✓➶✑➚✓➷ ➵✸➸✧➺☎➚✓➱☛➸☞➻êÞâÓè➪✮➷✲➚✓➪✢➷✑➱ ➾✯➚ ➾✤➽ ➷✑➺☎➚✓➾✎➱✍➷✑➻✎Ú
Ò✽➾✤➺✢➶✝➺✟➵✸➷✝➮ Ð✟Ú ➚✓➪✮➷ ➴✧➚✓➶✑➚✓➷ ➸☞➱ Ð☎Ú Ö✟➱✍➾✎Õ☎➶✑➚❭➷ ➾✤➺✟➮✟➾✤Õ☎➾✤➮✟➼✟➶✝➻✎➽✍Þ
Ó✖➪✢➷✲➚✓➪✮➷✑➱❝➚✓➪✮➷á➽✴➶✝Ñ✚➷➩Ò✽➼✢➺✟➵✸➚✓➾✤➸☞➺ Óè➶✝➽➳➸✧➱✍➾✤Ô☞➾✤➺✟➶✝➻✎➻✤Ú ➵✲➶✝➱✍➱✍➾✎➷✑➮ ➸☞➼✟➚
Ð✟Úâ➶✺ëè➷✝Ö☎➶✝➱✍➚❭Ñ✚➷✝➺☎➚❜➸✧Òì➚✓➪✢➷✿➴☞➚✓➶✑➚✓➷✿➶✝➺✟➮Û➽✴➸➳➸☞➺í❮ îï➪✢➷✝➱✍➷✩Ñ✚➶✝Ú
Ð✟➷★Ñ✚➶✝➺✢ÚâÒ✽➼✢➺✟➵✸➚✓➾✤➸☞➺✢➽❊➸✧Ò➦Ö✟➼✟Ð✟➻✎➾✤➵➆➾✤Ñ✚Ö✟➸✧➱➜➚✓➶✝➺✟➵✲➷★Ó✖➪✢➾✤➵✲➪â➵✸➶✝➺→Ð✟➷
Ö✟➷✑➱✍Ò✽➸✧➱✍Ñ✚➷✑➮ Ð✟Ú Ö✟➱✍➾✤Õ☎➶✑➚✓➷ ➸☞➱☛Ô♦➶✝➺✢➾✤➽✴➶✑➚✓➾✤➸✧➺ ➶✝➻✤➽✴➸✮❮★à✕➷ ➪✢➶✝Õ☎➷ ➶
➻✤➶✝➱✍Ô☞➷ ➺✟➼✢Ñ✚Ð✟➷✑➱✻➸✧Ò ➸✧➱✍Ô☞➶✝➺✟➾✎➽✴➶✲➚✓➾✎➸☞➺✢➽Ü➮✟➸☞➾✎➺✟Ô ➾✤Ñ✚Ö✟➸☞➱➜➚✓➶✝➺✟➚⑦➽✴➸✧➵✸➾✎➶✝➻
Ó✖➸☞➱✍ð➭Õ☎➾✤➚❭➶✝➻Ø➚✓➸★➚✓➪✢➷➹➵✸➸✧Ñ✚Ñ✚➼✟➺✢➾✯➚✓Ú✈❮ îï➪✮➷✑➱✍➷✕➶✝➱✍➷☞Þ❈Ò✽➸☞➱❊➷✑é✟➶✝Ñ✚Ö☎➻✎➷♦Þ
➸☞➱☛Ô♦➶✝➺✢➾✤➽✴➶✑➚✓➾✤➸✧➺✟➽ Ó✖➪✢➾✤➵✲➪ ➻✤➸✧➸☞ð ➶✝Ò✽➚✓➷✑➱✽Þ ➷✑➮✟➼✟➵✲➶✑➚✓➷ ➶✝➺✟➮ ➚✓➱☛➶✝➾✤➺
➪✢➶✝➺✟➮✟➾✤➵✲➶✝Ö✟Ö☎➷✝➮ Ö✟➷✑➱✍➽✴➸✧➺✟➽✥➸✧➱✥➚✓➪✢➷✻Ð✟➻✤➾✎➺✟➮✷ÞåÖ✟➱✍➸✧Õ☎➾✤➮✟➷➩➚✓➪✢➷✑Ñ Ó✖➾✯➚✓➪
ñ ➸✧Ð✟➽ ➶✝➺✟➮ ➱✍➷✑➪✢➶✝Ð✟➾✤➻✎➾✯➚✓➶✑➚✓➷ ➚✓➪✢➷✝Ñò❮ î✉➪✢➷✑➱✍➷ ➶✝➱✍➷ Ö✟➱✍➾✤Õ☎➶✑➚✓➷➵✸➪✮➶✝➱✍➾✯➚✓➶✝Ð✟➻✤➷ ➸✧➱✍Ô☞➶✝➺✟➾✤➽✴➶✑➚✓➾✎➸☞➺✟➽ Óè➪✮➾✤➵✲➪ Ñ✚➶✝Ú Ö✟➱✍➸✧Õ☎➾✤➮✟➷ Ò✽➱✍➷✑➷ ➸☞➱
➽✴➼✟Ð✟➽✴➾✤➮✟➾✤➽✴➷✑➮ ➪✮➸☞➼✢➽✴➾✤➺✟Ô ➚✓➸ ➚✓➪✮➷ Ö✟➸✧➸☞➱ß➸✧➱✻Ò✽➱☛➷✑➷ Ñ✚➷✑➮✟➾✤➵✲➶✝➻★➶✝➾✤➮í❮
îï➪✢➷✝Ú Ñ✚➶✝Ú ➽✴➼✟Ö✟Ö✟➻✤Ú ➚✓➷✝é●➚ Ð✟➸☞➸✧ð✷➽ ➚✓➸ Ö✟➸☞➸✧➱ ➽✳➚✓➼✢➮☎➷✝➺☎➚✓➽✍Þ
Ò✽➱✍➷✝➷✑➽✴➪✢➾✤Ö✟➽ ➶✝➺✟➮ ➽✴➵✲➪✢➸✧➻✤➶✝➱☛➽✳➪✮➾✤Ö✟➽☛❮ îï➪✢➷✝➱✍➷ Ñ✚➶✝Ú Ð✟➷ Ö☎➱☛➾✤Õ☎➶✑➚✓➷
➸☞➱☛Ô♦➶✝➺✢➾✤➽✴➶✑➚✓➾✤➸✧➺ ➷✑➺✟Ô☞➶✝Ô♦➷✝➮ ➾✤➺ ➚✓➱✍➶✝➺✟➽✴Ö✟➸✧➱➜➚❝➸✧ÒÜÔ☞➸☞➸✧➮☎➽✥➶✝➺✢➮ Ñ✚➷✝➺í❮
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wp5666.07.sxw 9/19óïô✢õ✝ö ÷☎õ✝ø✍ù✽ú✧ø✍û ù✽ü✢ý✟þ✸ÿ✁ ✤ú☞ý✄✂ ☎✖ô✄ ✤þ✲ô ✆✝ø✍õ✞✝⑦ü✢ý✠✟☎ú✧ü✠✡☎ÿ✓õ☛✟✠☞✤ö ú☞ù
÷✟ü✠✡✠☞✌ ✤þ✍ ✎ûØ÷✟ú✧ø➜ÿ✁✆✝ý✟þ✲õ✎✝✏✆✝ý✠✟ ÿ✓ô✮õ✑ö ✂✴ü✠✡ ✂✴õ✑ø✒✑☎õ✓✆â÷✟ü✠✡✠☞✌ ✎þÜý✟õ✑õ☛✟✕✔
✖ïü☎ÿ✾ÿ✓ô✗ ✌✂✘✟☎ú✧õ☛✂➆ý✢ú♦ÿ✾ý✟õ✑þ✲õ☛✂✙✂✙✆✝ø✒ ✌☞✎ö û✚✆✜✛✷õ✢✂✴ü✟þ✲ô ú☞ø✤✣✎✆✝ý✄ ✌✂✙✆✑ÿ✁ ✤ú✧ý✠✂
✥☛✦ ÿ✁✆✑ÿ✓õ★✧ ü✟ý✠✟✟õ✑ø✪✩❈ø➜ÿ✁ ✎þ✫☞✎õ✭✬✯✮✰✔ ✖✱✆✑ý✄✛✲ ✤ý✠✣✳ ✌✂➯ü✢ý✠✟☎ú✧ü✠✡☎ÿ✓õ☛✟✠☞✤ö✴✆ù✽ü✟ý✢þ➎ÿ✁ ✎ú☞ý✿ú✧ùå÷✟ü✠✡✠☞✌ ✤þ✪ ✤û✚÷✟ú☞ø➜ÿ✁✆✝ý✢þ✸õ✞✔ ✵êý✥ù✶✆✝þ✸ÿ✷✝ ÿ✓ô✮õ⑤ý✠✆✑ÿ✁ ✎ú☞ý✄✆✜☞✌ ✌✂✴õ☛✟
✡✠✆✝ý✠✛✲✂✸✟✟úßþ✹✆✝ø✍ø✍ö ú✧ü☎ÿ➹ÿ✓ô✢õ✜✂✴õâù✽ü✢ý✟þ✸ÿ✁ ✤ú✧ý✠✂✺ü✟ý✠✟✟õ✑ø➆ÿ✓ô✮õâþ✲ú☞ý✟ÿ✓ø✍ú✺☞
ú☞ù ÿ✓ô✢õ ✦ ÿ✁✆✑ÿ❭õ✺✔ ✖ïü✟ÿ➭ÿ✓ô✄✆✑ÿ✍✟☎ú✧õ☛✂Üý✟ú☞ÿãû✚õ☛✆✝ý ÿ✓ô✄✆✑ÿ✻✡✠✆✝ý✠✛✲✂
☎✖ô✄ ✤þ✲ô✼✆✝ø✍õ✕ý✢ú♦ÿ✽✂✴ú✾þ✲ú☞ý✟ÿ✓ø✍ú✺☞✌☞✤õ✜✟✰✝❋ú☞ø✾✡✠✆✝ý✠✛✲✂✏☎✖ô✄ ✎þ✸ô✿✆✝ø✍õ✪✂✴õ✑ÿ➡ü✟÷
✡✟ö ÷✟ø✒ ✌✑❀✆✑ÿ✓õ ú✧ø✒✣✞✆✝ý✠ ✌✂✙✆✑ÿ✁ ✎ú☞ý✠✂ ú☞ø þ✲ú✰❁✂ú✧÷✟õ✑ø✒✆✑ÿ✁ ✌✑☎õ ✂✴ú✧þ✫ ✎õ✲ÿ✁ ✤õ☛✂
✡✟õ✑þ✸ú✧û✚õ ✥☛✦ ÿ✁✆✑ÿ❭õ❀✧ ü✢ý✠✟✟õ✑ø❂✩❈ø➜ÿ✁ ✎þ✫☞✎õ✻✬✯✮✰✔❃✵Ýý❄✆❅☎èõ☛☞✎ù✶✆✝ø✍õ ✦ ÿ✁✆✑ÿ✓õ✎✝
û✚✆✝ý✟ö❆✆✝þ➎ÿ✁ ✌✑❀ ✤ÿ✁ ✤õ☛✂❇☎✖ô✗ ✤þ✸ô❈✆✝ø✍õ➭ú✧ù ÿ✓õ✑ýßþ✹✆✝ø✍ø✒ ✎õ☛✟Üú✧ý✢✡☎ö✻÷☎ø✤ ✌✑❀✆✑ÿ✓õ
ú☞ø✤✣✎✆✝ý✄ ✌✂✙✆✑ÿ✁ ✤ú✧ý✠✂✍✆✝ø✍õ ü✟ý✠✟✟õ✑ø➜ÿ✁✆✜✛✷õ✑ý ✡✟ö ÿ✓ô✢õ ✦ ÿ✁✆✑ÿ✓õ✞✔ ✵êý ✂✴ü✟þ✲ô
þ✫✆✜✂✴õ✜✂❥ÿ✓ô✢õ ✦ ü✢÷☎ø☛õ✑û✚õ❊❉♠ú✧ü✢ø➜ÿ ô✗✆✜✂❋✂✙✆✜ ✌✟✿ÿ✓ô✄✆✑ÿ●☎✖õ❲û✚ü✄✂✳ÿ❍☞✤ú✧ú✞✛✻✆✑ÿ
ÿ✓ô✢õ➆ú✺✑☎õ✑ø✒✆✜☞■☞➡÷✟ú✺✂✙ ✯ÿ✁ ✤ú✧ý⑥ú✧ù✕ÿ✓ô✢õ❝ú☞ø✤✣✎✆✝ý✄ ✌✂✙✆✑ÿ✁ ✤ú✧ý✭ ✎ý⑥ÿ✓ô✢õ❄☞✌ ✌✣☞ô✟ÿ➯ú✧ù
ÿ✓ô✢õ❲ú♦ÿ✓ô✮õ✑ø❥ÿ✓õ☛✂✳ÿ✁✂❏✆✜☞✌✂✴ú✄✝❉õ☛✂✴÷✟õ✑þ✹ ✌✆✜☞■☞✤ö❑☎✖ô✢õ✝ý✿ÿ✓ô✢õ❊ù➞ü✟ý✟þ✸ÿ✁ ✤ú✧ý✿ú✧ù❜ÿ✓ô✢õ
ú☞ø✤✣✎✆✝ý✄ ✌✂✙✆✑ÿ✁ ✤ú✧ý✍ ✌✂⑤ý✟ú☞ÿ▲✂✴ü✢þ✸ô✢✆✜✂❊þ✹✆✝ý✍✡✟õ✥þ✹✆✝ø✍ø✒ ✎õ☛✟⑥ú✧ýÜú✧ý✠☞✤ö▼✡☎ö
ÿ✓ô✢õ ✦ ÿ✁✆✑ÿ✓õ ú✧ø ✌✂ ý✟ú☞ÿ þ✸ú✧ý✟ý✟õ✝þ➎ÿ✓õ☛✟ ☎◆ ✯ÿ✓ô ✣☞ú✞✑☎õ✑ø✍ý✢û✚õ✑ý☎ÿ✁✆✜☞
ù✽ü✟ý✢þ➎ÿ✁ ✎ú☞ý✄✂✒✔■✧
After referring to the several authorities from the Supreme
Court, the issue was answered by the Full Bench as follows in para
28:
✥ ✩ þ✲ú✰❁✴ú✧÷☎õ✝ø✒✆✑ÿ✁ ✌✑☎õ ✂✴ú☞þ✹ ✤õ✲ÿ✓ö✕✝ ø✍õ☛✣✞ ✌✂✳ÿ✓õ✝ø✍õ☛✟ ü✢ý✠✟✟õ✑ø ÿ✓ô✢õ
÷✟ø✍ú✞✑❀ ■✂✙ ✤ú☞ý✄✂ ú✧ù ÿ✓ô✢õ ❖✆✝ô✗✆✝ø✒✆✜✂✴ô✟ÿ✓ø✤✆ ❉❆ú✰❁✴ú✧÷✟õ✑ø✒✆✑ÿ✁ ✌✑☎õ ✦ ú✧þ✹ ✤õ✲ÿ✁ ✤õ✜✂
✩❈þ➎ÿ✷✝ ✬❘◗★❙★❚ ✆✝ý✠✟ ü✟ý✄✟☎õ✑ø ÿ✓ô✮õ ❖❜ü✄☞✯ÿ✁ ✦ ÿ✁✆✑ÿ✓õ ❉❆ú✧ú✧÷☎õ✑ø✤✆✑ÿ✁ ✌✑☎õ
✦ ú✧þ✫ ✎õ✲ÿ✁ ✤õ☛✂✼✩❈þ✸ÿ✷✝✸✬❘◗✄❯✎❱✲✝☎✖ô✄ ✎þ✸ô þ✫✆✝ø☛ø✒ ✤õ☛✂★ú✧ý ÿ✓ô✮õ✭✡✟ü✠✂✙ ✤ý✟õ✜✂✙✂➆ú☞ù
✡✠✆✝ý✠✛✲ ✤ý✠✣✠✝❲✆✝ý✄✟ ✌✂→ÿ✓ô✢õ✝ø✍õ✑ù✽ú✧ø✍õ ✣☞ú✺✑☎õ✑ø✍ý✟õ☛✟ ✡☎ö ÿ✓ô✢õ ✖❳✆✝ý✠✛✲ ✎ý✠✣
❨ õ✜✣♦ü✄☞✌✆✑ÿ✁ ✤ú✧ý✭✩❈þ➎ÿ✷✝❩✬❘◗✺❱✄◗✍✟✟ú☞õ✜✂⑤ý✟ú☞ÿ ÿ✓ô✢õ✝ø✍õ☛✡✟ö➩ù✶✆✜☞✌☞❬☎◆ ✯ÿ✓ô✗ ✤ýÜÿ✓ô✢õ
õ☛❭☎÷✟ø✍õ✜✂❪✂✙ ✎ú☞ý ✥✜✦ ÿ✁✆✑ÿ✓õ★✧ ü✟ý✠✟✟õ✑ø ✩❈ø➜ÿ✁ ✤þ✹☞✤õ ✬✯✮ ú✧ù ÿ✓ô✮õ
❉❆ú☞ý✄✂✳ÿ✁ ✯ÿ✓ü☎ÿ✁ ✤ú✧ý ú☞ù ✵êý✠✟✠ ✌✆✺✔ óïô✮õ ✆✝÷☎÷✟õ☛☞■☞✌✆✝ý☎ÿ❫❁✷✖❳✆✝ý✠✛ þ✫✆✝ý✟ý✢ú♦ÿ✷✝
ÿ✓ô✢õ✑ø☛õ✑ù✽ú✧ø✍õ✎✝❴✡✟õ❊þ✲ú☞ý✄✂✙ ✌✟☎õ✝ø✍õ☛✟❲✆✜✂ ✥☛✦ ÿ❵✆✑ÿ✓õ❀✧❧ü✢ý✠✟☎õ✝ø❬✩❈ø✍ÿ✁ ✤þ✹☞✤õ❛✬✯✮✰✔■✧
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wp5666.07.sxw 10/19Thus, it was held that the cooperative Bank is not a “State”
or “State instrumentality”.
8. In S. S. Rana Vs. Registrar, Co-op. Societies & another –
(2006) 11 Supreme Court Cases 634 again the question arose
whether the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Ltd. which was
registered society was “State” within the meaning of Article 12 of
the Constitution and whether writ petition would lie.
ig Their
Lordships held that it is settled position that to treat such an
institution as a State, it is necessary to show that there was deep
and pervasive control of the Government over it and observed as
follows:
” ❜✶❝✲❞❡❣❢✘❤✄✐✜❥✳❦✠❧✎❢❑♠✠♥☛♥☛❦ ❥✙❤✄❧✺♦◆❦ ♠✠♥☛♣✶❧✺q✒♥✓r✠❥❛❢✁❤✗✐☛❢✘❢✁❤✗♥ts✞❢✁✐☛❢✁♥
♥☛✉❀♥☛q✤✈✫✇■❥❪♥✜❥▲✐✜❦✄①③②✠✇✌q✒♥✜✈❘❢④❧✺q⑤✇✌❦✠②✠✇✌q✒♥✜✈❘❢❂✈✫❧✺❦❀❢✁q✒❧✺⑥❏❧✞⑦❀♥☛q⑤❢✁❤✄♥❛✐✜♣✶♣✯✐✜✇✌q✒❥
❧✞♣③❢✁❤✄♥❆s★❧✞✈✹✇✌♥✹❢✁① ♣✶❧✺q③②✠♥☛♥☛⑧ ✐✜❦✠② ⑧✠♥☛q✒⑦❀✐✜❥✙✇✌⑦❀♥t✈✹❧✺❦❀❢✁q✒❧✺⑥⑨❞ ⑩❳❤✄♥
s✞❢✁✐☛❢✁♥❅♣✶r✄q❫❢✁❤✄♥✜q✒❶✚❧✺q✒♥❊✇■❥✏❦✠❧✞❢✾❢✁❤✄♥❅❶✚✐✜❷❵❧✞q✤✇❸❢✁①❹❥✙❤✄✐✜q✒♥✜❤✄❧✺⑥✌②✠♥☛q✯❞ ⑩❳❤✗♥
s✞❢✁✐☛❢✁♥✳❤✗✐✜❥❇❢✁❤✗♥✳⑧✠❧✺♦❺♥☛q❻❧✞❦✠⑥■①t❢✁❧✴❦✠❧✞❶✚✇■❦✠✐☛❢✁♥✴❧✞❦✄♥❹❼❺✇✌q✒♥✜✈❘❢✁❧✺q✯❞❽❡❣❢
✈✫✐✜❦✠❦✄❧✎❢✷❾✭❢✁❤✄r✠❥✒❾t♠❀♥ ❥✙✐✜✇✌② ❢✁❤✄✐☛❢ ❢✁❤✄♥ s✞❢✁✐☛❢✁♥ ♥☛✉✠♥☛q✒✈✹✇✌❥✙♥☛❥ ✐✜❦✠①
♣✶r✠❦✄✈❘❢✁✇✌❧✺❦✠✐✜⑥✚✈✹❧✞❦✠❢✁q✒❧✺⑥❿❧✞⑦❀♥☛q❂❢✁❤✄♥❊✐✜♣✶♣✶✐✜✇■q✒❥✏❧✞♣➀❢✁❤✄♥❇s★❧✞✈✹✇✌♥☛❢✁①✼✇✌❦✼❢✁❤✄♥
❥✙♥☛❦✠❥✙♥❑❢✁❤✄✐☛❢❢✁❤✄♥❛❶✚✐✜❷❵❧✞q✤✇❸❢✁①✍❼❺✇✌q✒♥✜✈❘❢✁❧✺q✒❥❂✐✜q✒♥✳❦✠❧✞❶✚✇■❦✠✐☛❢✁♥☛②➁♠✠①✍❢✁❤✄♥
s✞❢✁✐☛❢✁♥✞❞ ➂➃❧✺q❂✐✜q✤q✒✇✌⑦❀✇✌❦✄➄❲✐☛❢●❢✁❤✄♥❊✈✫❧✺❦✠✈✹⑥✌r✄❥✙✇✌❧✺❦❛❢✁❤✗✐☛❢❍❢✁❤✗♥❊s✞❢✁✐☛❢✁♥❊❤✄✐✜❥
✐✴②❀♥✜♥☛⑧❆✐✜❦✄②t⑧✠♥☛q✒⑦❀✐✜❥✙✇✌⑦❀♥❹✈✫❧✺❦❀❢✁q✤❧✞⑥❧✞⑦❀♥☛q✘❢✁❤✄♥❹s★❧✞✈✹✇✌♥✹❢✁①✕❾✏❥✙♥☛⑦❀♥☛q✒✐✜⑥
❧✎❢✁❤✗♥☛q✘q✒♥☛⑥■♥☛⑦❀✐✜❦❀❢❊➅✠r✠♥☛❥❪❢✁✇✌❧✺❦✠❥✸✐✜q✒♥➁q✤♥☛➅❀r✄✇✌q✒♥✜②t❢✁❧✓♠❀♥③✈✹❧✺❦✠❥✙✇✌②✠♥☛q✒♥☛②✲❾
❦✠✐✜❶✚♥☛⑥✌①➆❾➈➇➉❜➉➊✾➋➌❧✞♦ ♦◆✐✜❥✽❢✁❤✄♥❊s✺❧✺✈✫✇■♥✹❢✁①✼✈✹q✒♥☛✐☛❢✁♥☛②✗➍❻➇❫➎✕➊✾➏❊❤✗♥✹❢✁❤✄♥☛q
✇❸❢●♥☛❦✄❷➐❧✺①✄❥❏✐✜❦✠①❄❶✚❧✞❦✄❧✞⑧✠❧✺⑥✌①✼✈✫❤✗✐✜q✒✐✜✈❘❢✁♥✜q➑➍✘➇➑➒✗➊✾❼❺❧❻❢✁❤✄♥⑤♣✶r✠❦✄✈❘❢✁✇✌❧✺❦✠❥
❧✞♣❲❢✁❤✄♥❹s★❧✞✈✹✇✌♥✹❢✁①▼⑧✠✐✜q❫❢✁✐✜➓✲♥❹❢✁❧③❥❪❢✁✐✹❢✁r✠❢✁❧✞q✤①t♣✶r✄❦✠✈✫❢✁✇✌❧✞❦✄❥⑤❧✞q❻⑧❀r✄♠❀⑥■✇✌✈
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wp5666.07.sxw 11/19➔✶→✠➣✄↔❘↕✁➙✌➛✺➣✠➜➞➝✓➟➠➣✄➡ ➢✷➤➆➥✻➦➨➧✜➣ ➙✌↕✳➩✠➫t↔✹➭✄➧✜➯✒➧✜↔✫↕✁➫☛➯✒➙■➜✙➫☛➡ ➧✜➜❛➲✠→✠➩✠➳✌➙■↔
➧✜→❀↕✁➭✄➛✺➯✒➙✌↕❵➵✲➝
➸❀➸☛➺ ➻➼➫✜➜✙➲❀➛✺➣✠➡✠➫☛➣❀↕➾➽✗➚●↕✁➭✗➫❹➪✺➛✺↔✫➙■➫✹↕✁➵✢➡✠➛✞➫✜➜❊➣✠➛✎↕❇➧✜➣✠➜✙➶◆➫☛➯❅➧✜➣✠➵
➛✞➔③↕✁➭✄➫❆➧✜➔✶➛✺➯✒➫✜➹❿➫✜➣❀↕✁➙✌➛✺➣✠➫☛➡ ↕✁➫✜➜❪↕❵➜✤➺ ➘⑨➣ ↕✁➭✄➫t↔✹➧✜➜✙➫ ➛✺➔✭➧❈➣✠➛✺➣➆➴
➜❪↕✁➧✹↕✁→✠↕✁➛✞➯✤➵ ➜✙➛✺↔✫➙■➫✹↕✁➵✕➚⑤↕✁➭✄➫ ↔✹➛✞➣✠↕❵➯✤➛✞➳❅↕✁➭✗➫☛➯✒➫ ➛✺➷★➫✜➯✢➶◆➛✞→✄➳✌➡ ➹✚➫☛➧✜➣
↕✁➭✄➧☛↕❽↕✁➭✗➫❇➜✙➧✜➹✚➫❊➜✙➧☛↕✁➙✌➜✙➔✯➙✌➫☛➜➬↕✁➭✗➫➾↕✁➫☛➜❪↕✁➜❏➳✌➧✜➙■➡✘➡❀➛✺➶◆➣❛➩✠➵✘↕✁➭✗➙✌➜❋➦➨➛✞→✄➯❫↕
➙✌➣ ➺
Ajay Hasia v. Khalid Mujib Sehravardi
➸✯➽✰➺ ➘⑨↕❩➙■➜➮➶◆➫☛➳✌➳❏➜✙➫✹↕❵↕✁➳■➫☛➡③↕✁➭✗➧☛↕➮➱✞➫☛➣✠➫✜➯✒➧✜➳❬➯✒➫☛➱✞→✠➳■➧☛↕✁➙✌➛✺➣✠➜✪→✄➣✠➡✠➫☛➯➧✜➣ ➟➠↔✫↕✷➚✘➳✌➙■✃✲➫ ↕✁➭✗➫ ➦➨➛✺➹❿➲✠➧✜➣✠➙■➫☛➜✢➟➠↔❘↕➁➛✺➯❈↕✁➭✄➫ ➦➨➛✞➛✺➲✠➫☛➯✒➧☛↕✁➙✌➷❀➫
➪✺➛✺↔✫➙■➫✹↕✁➙✌➫☛➜ ➟➠↔❘↕✷➚✴➶❺➛✺→✠➳■➡ ➣✄➛✎↕ ➯✒➫✜➣✠➡✠➫☛➯ ↕✁➭✄➫ ➧✜↔✫↕✁➙✌➷❀➙❸↕✁➙✌➫☛➜ ➛✺➔ ➧
↔✫➛✺➹✚➲✠➧✜➣✠➵✳➛✺➯✾➧➾➜✙➛✞↔✹➙✌➫✹↕✁➵❑➧✜➜✾➜✙→✠➩✠❐❵➫☛↔✫↕❒↕✁➛❲↔✫➛✺➣❀↕✁➯✒➛✺➳❿➛✺➔❩↕✁➭✄➫❊➪✞↕✁➧☛↕✁➫✞➺
➪✺→✠↔✹➭✻↔✹➛✺➣❀↕✁➯✒➛✺➳❍➙■➣❹↕✁➫☛➯✒➹✚➜❩➛✺➔➾↕✁➭✄➫✘➲✠➯✒➛✞➷❀➙■➜✙➙✌➛✞➣✄➜▲➛✺➔➾↕✁➭✄➫✘➟➠↔❘↕➧✜➯✒➫
➹✚➫☛➧✜➣❀↕➮↕✁➛③➫☛➣✠➜✙→✠➯✤➫✳➲✠➯✒➛✺➲❀➫✜➯❻➔✯→✠➣✠↔✫↕✁➙✌➛✺➣✠➙✌➣✄➱✍➛✺➔❻↕✁➭✗➫❹➜✙➛✞↔✹➙✌➫✹↕✁➵t➧✜➣✠➡
↕✁➭✄➫❅➪✺↕✁➧☛↕❵➫❊➛✺➯➀➜❪↕✁➧☛↕✁→❀↕✁➛✺➯✒➵❄➧✜→❀↕✁➭✄➛✺➯✒➙✌↕❵➙■➫☛➜✾➶◆➛✺→✠➳■➡✿➭✗➧✜➷❀➫❊➣✠➛✎↕✁➭✗➙✌➣✠➱✘↕✁➛
➡❀➛✸➶❺➙✌↕✁➭✘➙❸↕✁➜✽➡✠➧✜➵❲↕✁➛❊➡✠➧✜➵✘➔✶→✠➣✄↔❘↕✁➙■➛✞➣✠➜✤➺
➸✹❮✠➺ ❰❳➭✄➫❑➡❀➫☛↔✹➙✌➜✙➙■➛✞➣✍➛✞➔❅↕✁➭✄➫❛➜✙➫☛➷❀➫☛➣✍Ï✶→✠➡✠➱✞➫✼Ð❳➫☛➣✠↔✹➭③➛✺➔✸↕✁➭✗➙✌➜
➦Ñ➛✺→✄➯❫↕❂➙■➣ ➶◆➭✄➫☛➯✤➫☛→✠➲✠➛✺➣✓➜❪↕✁➯✒➛✞➣✄➱✿➯✒➫☛➳■➙✌➧✜➣✠↔✹➫
Pradeep Kumar Biswas
➭✄➧✜➜➮➩✠➫☛➫☛➣❹➲✠➳■➧✜↔✫➫☛➡✲➚❒➭✗➧✜➜▲➣✄➛✼➧✜➲✠➲❀➳■➙✌↔✹➧☛↕✁➙✌➛✺➣③➙■➣❹↕✁➭✄➫❛➙■➣✠➜❪↕✁➧✜➣❀↕❩↔✹➧✜➜✙➫✞➺➘⑨➣✭↕✁➭✗➧☛↕➮↔✹➧✜➜✙➫✎➚❏↕✁➭✄➫❹Ð❳➫✜➣✠↔✫➭✢➶❺➧✜➜❊➡✠➫☛↔✫➙■➡❀➙■➣✠➱➁➧✴Ò✠→✠➫✜➜❪↕✁➙✌➛✞➣❈➧✜➜✪↕✁➛
➶❺➭✗➫✹↕✁➭✄➫☛➯✢➙✌➣ ➷❀➙✌➫☛➶ ➛✺➔ ↕✁➭✗➫ ➜✙→✄➩✠➜❪➫✜Ò❀→✄➫☛➣❀↕➁➡✠➫☛↔✫➙■➜✙➙✌➛✺➣✠➜③➛✺➔ ↕✁➭✗➙✌➜
➦Ñ➛✺→✄➯❫↕✷➚Ó↕✁➭✄➫⑤➳✌➧✜➶ ➶◆➧☛➜❋↔✫➛✺➯✒➯✤➫☛↔❘↕✁➳■➵✼➳■➧✜➙✌➡❻➡❀➛✺➶◆➣✘➙✌➣
Sabhajit Tewary➧✜➣✄➡❲➙■➔➣✠➛✞↕❽➶◆➭✄➫☛↕❵➭✗➫☛➯↕✁➭✗➫❩➜✙➧✜➹✚➫⑤➡✠➫☛➜✙➫☛➯✒➷❀➫☛➡❅↕✁➛
v. Union of India
➩❀➫❹➛✞➷❀➫☛➯✤➯✒→✠➳■➫☛➡✲➺❽❰❳➭✗➫❄➹✚➧✜❐➐➛✺➯✒➙✌↕✁➵✭➛✞➲✠➙✌➣✄➫☛➡▼↕✁➭✗➧☛↕❂↕✁➭✄➫❹➦➨➛✺→✠➣✠↔✹➙✌➳❋➛✺➔➪✺↔✹➙✌➫☛➣❀↕✁➙■➔✶➙✌↔❅➧✜➣✄➡✿➘Ô➣✠➡✠→✠➜❪↕✁➯✒➙■➧✜➳➬➻Õ➫☛➜✙➫☛➧✜➯✒↔✹➭❆➢✷➦➨➪✺➘Ô➻Ö➥➀➶❺➧✜➜ ×☛➪✺↕✁➧☛↕✁➫★Ø
➶❺➙✌↕✁➭✄➙✌➣❛↕✁➭✄➫⑤➹✚➫☛➧✜➣✠➙✌➣✄➱❲➛✞➔▲➟➠➯❫↕✁➙■↔✫➳■➫✿➸✯➽❲➛✺➔➮↕✁➭✄➫⑤➦➨➛✞➣✄➜❪↕✁➙❸↕✁→❀↕✁➙✌➛✺➣❑➛✞➔
➘⑨➣✠➡✠➙✌➧✺➺ ❰❳➭✄➙■➜▲➦➨➛✺→✠➯❫↕❬➣✠➛✎↕✁➙■↔✫➫✜➡✴↕✁➭✗➫❲➭✗➙✌➜❪↕✁➛✺➯✒➵✴➛✞➔❇↕✁➭✄➫✘➔✶➛✺➯✒➹✚➧☛↕✁➙✌➛✺➣
↕✁➭✄➫☛➯✒➫✜➛✞➔☛➚❋➙✌↕✁➜❻➛✺➩✠❐➐➫✜↔❘↕✁➜❻➧✜➣✄➡ ➔✶→✄➣✠↔✫↕✁➙✌➛✺➣✠➜✒➚✏➙✌↕❵➜❛➹✚➧✜➣✠➧✜➱✎➫✜➹✚➫☛➣❀↕❊➧✜➣✠➡
↔✫➛✺➣❀↕✁➯✒➛✺➳➧✜➜❇➧✜➳✌➜✙➛✍↕✁➭✄➫❹➫☛Ù❀↕❵➫✜➣❀↕❇➛✞➔✼➔✶➙✌➣✠➧✜➣✄↔✫➙■➧✜➳✏➧✜➙✌➡▼➯✒➫☛↔✹➫☛➙✌➷❀➫☛➡▼➩✠➵
➙❸↕➞➺ ➟➠➲✠➧✜➯❫↕✾➔✶➯✤➛✞➹ ↕✁➭✗➫❲➜✙➧✜➙✌➡③➔✶➧✜↔❘↕❩➙✌↕✾➶❺➧✜➜▲➣✠➛✞↕✁➙✌↔✹➫☛➡➁➩❀➵③➯✤➫☛➧✜➜✙➛✞➣
➛✞➔ ➧✜➣ ➧✜➲✠➲✠➯✒➛✺➲❀➯✤➙✌➧☛↕✁➫ ➣✠➛✞↕✁➙✌➔✯➙✌↔✹➧☛↕❵➙■➛✞➣ ➙■➜✙➜✙→✠➫☛➡ ➩✠➵ ↕✁➭✄➫ ➦➨➫☛➣❀↕✁➯✤➧✜➳
Ú◆➛✞➷❀➫☛➯✤➣✠➹✚➫☛➣❀↕❋↕✁➭✗➧☛↕❬➦➨➪✺➘Ô➻ ➶◆➧☛➜❂➧✜➹✚➫☛➣✠➧✜➩✠➳✌➫❅↕✁➛❛↕✁➭✗➫❲❐❵→✠➯✤➙✌➜✙➡✠➙✌↔✫↕✁➙✌➛✞➣
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wp5666.07.sxw 12/19Û✞Ü Ý✁Þ✄ß à➨ß☛á❀Ý✁â✤ã✜ä▼å➠æ✠ç✚è✌á✄è✌é❪Ý✁â✒ã☛Ý✁è✌ê❀ß ë✱â✒è✌ì✠í✠á✠ã✜ä✭è■á Ý✁ß✜â✒ç✚é Û✺Ü
î ß☛ï✫Ý✁è✌Û✺átð✶ñ➃ò➞ó✕ô❂Û✞Ü❩Ý✁Þ✄ß❊å➠æ✠ç✚è✌á✠è■é❪Ý✁â✒ã☛Ý✁è✌ê❀ß➾ë❳â✒è■ì❀í✄á✠ã✜äõå➠ï✫Ý✷ö✽ð❘÷✄ø★ù✄úû Ý ü◆ã✜é Û✺á Ý✁Þ✄ß ã✜Ü✶Û✺â✒ß✜ç❿ß✜á❀Ý✁è✌Û✺á✠ß☛æ ý✠â✒ß☛ç✚è✌é✙ß☛é✒ö✓Ý✁Þ✄è✌é à➨Û✺í✠â✒Ý
Û✞ý✠è✌á✄ß☛æ✼Ý✁Þ✗ã☛Ý æ✠è✌æ✳á✄Û✎Ý✏ä✌ã✜þ❹æ✠Û✞ü◆á❹Ý✁Þ✄ß✘ï✫Û✺â✒â✒ß✜ï❘Ý
Sabhajit Tewary
ä✌ã✜üõú ë✱Þ✄è✌é➾àÑÛ✺í✄â❫Ý➮â✒ß☛è❸Ý✁ß☛â✤ã☛Ý✁ß☛æ✓Ý✁Þ✗ß❹Ü✶Û✞ä■ä✌Û✺ü◆è✌á✠ÿ③é✙è✁ ③Ý✁ß☛é❪Ý✁é⑤ä■ã✜è✌ææ❀Û✺ü◆á❲è✌á
Ajay Hasia v. Khalid Mujib Sehravardi ú
✂
ò➉ð➉ô ✄❴á✄ß Ý✁Þ✗è✌á✠ÿ è✌é✓ï✹ä✌ß✜ã✜â❈Ý✁Þ✄ã☛Ý✻è■Ü❆Ý✁Þ✄ß ß☛á❀Ý✁è■â✒ßé✙Þ✄ã✜â✒ß ï✹ã✜ý❀è✌Ý✁ã✜ä❆Û✞Ü Ý✁Þ✗ß ï✹Û✞â✤ý❀Û✺â✒ã☛Ý✁è■Û✞á è✌é Þ✄ß✜ä✌æ ì❀þ
☎Û✞ê❀ß☛â✤á✠ç✚ß☛á❀Ý✙ö➀è✌Ý❛ü◆Û✞í✄ä✌æ ÿ✞Û ã ä■Û✞á✄ÿ ü❺ã✜þ Ý✁Û✺ü❺ã✜â✤æ❀é
è✌á✠æ✠è✌ï✹ã☛Ý✁è✌á✠ÿ Ý✁Þ✗ã☛Ý Ý✁Þ✄ß ï✫Û✺â✒ý✠Û✞â✤ã☛Ý✁è✌Û✺á è✌é ã✜á
ò❫ó✕ô
è✌á✠é❪Ý✁â✒í✄ç✚ß☛á❀Ý✁ã✜ä■è❸Ý✁þ✘Û✞â✏ã☛ÿ✞ß☛á✄ï✫þ✘Û✺Ü
✆✸Þ✄ß✜â✒ß✻Ý✁Þ✗ß③Ü✯è✌á✠ã✜á✠ï✹è✌ã✜ä④ã✜é✙é✙è✌é❪Ý✁ã✜á✄ï✫ß③Û✺Ü✿Ý✁Þ✄ß
☎ Û✺ê❀ß☛â✒á✠ç✚ß✜á❀Ý➞úî Ý✁ã☛Ý✁ß✍è✌é❲é✙Û❈ç✚í✄ï✫Þ ã✜é❲Ý✁Û▼ç✚ß☛ß☛Ý❻ã✜ä✌ç✚Û✺é❪Ý➾Ý✁Þ✄ß✭ß✜á❀Ý✁è✌â✒ß
ß✝ ❀ý✠ß☛á✠æ✠è❸Ý✁í✄â✒ß❹Û✺Ü✳Ý✁Þ✄ß✻ï✹Û✞â✤ý❀Û✺â✒ã☛Ý✁è■Û✞á✲ö❏è✌Ý❇ü◆Û✺í✠ä■æ❈ã✜Ü✯Ü✶Û✺â✒æ
é✙Û✞ç✚ß è✌á✠æ✠è✌ï✹ã☛Ý✁è✌Û✺á Û✺Ü Ý✁Þ✗ß ï✹Û✺â✒ý✠Û✞â✤ã☛Ý❵è■Û✞á ì✠ß☛è✌á✄ÿ
è✌ç✚ý✠â✒ß☛ÿ✞á✠ã☛Ý✁ß☛æ❲ü❺è✌Ý✁Þ✘ÿ✞Û✞ê❀ß☛â✒á✄ç✚ß☛á❀Ý✁ã✜ä➠ï✹Þ✄ã✜â✤ã✜ï❘Ý✁ß☛â❘ú
ò✟✞✗ô û Ý✻ç✚ã✜þ ã✜ä■é✙Û ì✠ß ã â✒ß☛ä✌ß✜ê❀ã☛á✠Ý✻Ü✶ã✜ï✫Ý✁Û✞â❘ú❸ú❸ú
ü❺Þ✗ß✹Ý✁Þ✄ß☛â❲Ý✁Þ✄ß➁ï✫Û✺â✒ý✠Û✞â✤ã☛Ý✁è✌Û✺á ß☛á✡✠❵Û✺þ✄é✸ç✚Û✞á✄Û✞ý✠Û✺ä✌þ❆é❪Ý✁ã☛Ý✁í✄é
ü❺Þ✗è✌ï✹Þ✘è✌é î Ý❵ã☛Ý✁ß☞☛✙ï✹Û✞á✠Ü✯ß☛â✒â✒ß✜æ❻Û✺â î Ý✁ã☛Ý✁ß✌☛✷ý❀â✤Û✍✠❵ß☛ï✫Ý✁ß☛æ✲ú
ò✷ñ➆ô ✎✏ ✠è✌é❪Ý✁ß☛á✄ï✫ß➀Û✺Ü➀æ✠ß☛ß☛ý✼ã✜á✠æ✘ý✠ß☛â✒ê❀ã✜é✙è✌ê❀ß î Ý✁ã☛Ý❵ß
ï✫Û✺á❀Ý✁â✒Û✺ä ç✚ã✜þ ã✜Ü✶Ü✶Û✺â✒æ ã✜á è✌á✠æ✠è✌ï✹ã☛Ý✁è✌Û✺á Ý✁Þ✗ã☛Ý Ý✁Þ✗ß
ï✫Û✺â✒ý✠Û✞â✤ã☛Ý✁è✌Û✺á❲è✌é✽ã î Ý✁ã☛Ý✁ß➀ã✜ÿ✞ß☛á✠ï✹þ✘Û✞â✏è✌á✠é❪Ý✁â✒í✄ç✚ß☛á❀Ý✁ã✜ä✌è✌Ý✁þ➆ú
ò✒ù✰ô û Ü➀Ý✁Þ✗ß❊Ü✶í✠á✄ï❘Ý✁è✌Û✺á✠é❏Û✞Ü➀Ý✁Þ✄ß❇ï✹Û✺â✒ý✠Û✞â✤ã☛Ý❵è■Û✞á❄ã✜â✒ß
Û✞Ü ý✠í✠ì✠ä■è✌ï è■ç✚ý❀Û✺â❫Ý✁ã✜á✠ï✹ß ã✜á✠æ ï✫ä■Û✺é❪ß✜ä✌þ â✒ß☛ä■ã☛Ý✁ß☛æ Ý✁Û
ÿ✎Û✺ê❀ß☛â✒á✠ç✚ß✜á❀Ý✁ã✜ä➮Ü✶í✄á✠ï✫Ý✁è✌Û✺á✠é✒ö④è❸Ý✘ü◆Û✞í✄ä✌æ ì✠ß✓ã❈â✒ß☛ä■ß☛ê❀ã✜á❀Ý
Ü✶ã✜ï❘Ý✁Û✺â è✌á ï✫ä■ã✜é✙é✙è✌Ü✶þ✗è✌á✠ÿ Ý✁Þ✗ß ï✹Û✺â✒ý✠Û✞â✤ã☛Ý❵è■Û✞á ã✜é ã✜á
è✌á✠é❪Ý✁â✒í✄ç✚ß☛á❀Ý✁ã✜ä■è❸Ý✁þ✘Û✞â✏ã☛ÿ✞ß☛á✄ï✫þ✘Û✺Ü ☎ Û✺ê❀ß☛â✒á✠ç✚ß✜á❀Ý➞ú
ò✒✑✕ô ✓ î ý✠ß☛ï✫è■Ü✶è✌ï✹ã✜ä✌ä■þ✕ö❄è✌Ü ã æ✠ß☛ý✠ã✜â❫Ý✁ç✚ß☛á❀ÝtÛ✺Ü
☎ Û✞ê❀ß☛â✤á✠ç✚ß☛á❀Ý❇è✌é❻Ý✁â✒ã✜á✄é✙Ü✶ß☛â✒â✤ß☛æ Ý✁Û✓ã➁ï✹Û✺â✒ý✠Û✞â✤ã☛Ý❵è■Û✞á✕ö❏è❸Ýü❺Û✺í✠ä■æ ì✠ß ã é❪Ý✁â✒Û✞á✄ÿ Ü✶ã✜ï✫Ý✁Û✞â é✙í✄ý❀ý✠Û✺â❫Ý✁è✌ê❀ß Û✺Ü Ý✁Þ✗è✌é
è✌á✠Ü✶ß✜â✒ß☛á✠ï✹ß✔✓ Û✺Ü Ý✁Þ✄ß ï✫Û✺â✒ý✠Û✞â✤ã☛Ý✁è✌Û✺á ì✠ß☛è✌á✄ÿ ã✜á
è✌á✠é❪Ý✁â✒í✄ç✚ß☛á❀Ý✁ã✜ä■è❸Ý✁þ✘Û✞â✏ã☛ÿ✞ß☛á✄ï✫þ✘Û✺Ü ☎ Û✺ê❀ß☛â✒á✠ç✚ß✜á❀Ý➞ú✖✕
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wp5666.07.sxw 13/19✗✏✘✚✙✁✛✢✜✤✣✌✥✡✦✒✧✩★✪✥✚✦✒✧✫✘✚✬✭✦✮✘✚✬✝✯✖✰✲✱✴✳
Pradeep Kumar Biswas case ✵
✶✌✷✸✷✸✷✸✷ ✗✹✘✺✬ ✻✡✙✁✼✽✧✫✥✚✦✾✬ ✧✫✘✚✿✝✧❀✥✚✯✸✧✫✙✁❁✴✿✝✧✫✬✝✯✖❂ ✬✝❁✴✬✝✦✟❃❄✬✭✛❅✙✁✛✧✫✘✚✿✝✧✢✧✫✘✚✬❆✧✫✬✝✛❇✧✫✛❈★✪✣✌✦✾❁✴✥✡✯✖✿✝✧✫✬✝✰❉✙✁❊ ✿✭✦✾✬❋❊✡✣❄✧●✿❍✦✾✙✖❃❄✙✖✰
Ajay Hasia
✛■✬❏✧❑✣✌★▲✻✡✦✾✙✖❊✡✼❏✙✁✻✡✯✁✬✝✛▼✛■✣◆✧✫✘✚✿✝✧❑✙✖★❉✿❀❖✡✣✍✰✡❂★◗✿✭✯✁✯✖✛❋❘❙✙✸✧✫✘✺✙✁❊❚✿✭❊✡❂✣✍❊✡✬❯✣✌★❆✧✫✘✺✬✝❁ ✙✁✧❱❁✴✥✡✛❇✧❳❲❨✬✝❩❬✘✚❂✚✻✡✣✍✧✫✘✚✬✝✛■✙❭❲❪❖✡✬❫✼❴✣✌❊✡✛■✙✁✰✡✬✝✦✾✬✭✰❵✧✫✣
❖❛✬❜✿❀❝✍✧✫✿✝✧✫✬❞❘❙✙✸✧✫✘✚✙✁❊❚✧✫✘✚✬❜❁✴✬✭✿✭❊✡✙✁❊✡❃❅✣✍★✲❡❢✦✒✧✫✙✖✼❴✯✖✬ ❣◗❤✺❲ ✗✹✘✺✬
✐ ✥✚✬✝✛❇✧✫✙✁✣✌❊ ✙✖❊ ✬✝✿✭✼❴✘ ✼❏✿✭✛■✬ ❘❙✣✌✥✡✯✖✰ ❖✡✬ ❘❙✘✺✬❏✧✫✘✚✬✝✦❅✙✖❊ ✧✫✘✚✬
✯✁✙✁❃✍✘✡✧❈✣✌★❥✧✫✘✚✬❯✼❏✥✡❁✴✥✡✯✖✿✝✧✫✙✁❦❛✬❧★✪✿✭✼❴✧✫✛♠✿✭✛❈✬✭✛❇✧✫✿✝❖✡✯✖✙✁✛■✘✚✬✭✰♥❲❨✧✫✘✚✬❯❖✡✣✍✰✡❂
✙✁✛ ★✪✙✖❊✡✿✭❊✡✼❏✙✁✿✭✯✁✯✖❂♦❲ ★✪✥✚❊✡✼❴✧✫✙✁✣✌❊✡✿✭✯✁✯✖❂ ✿✭❊✡✰ ✿✭✰❛❁✴✙✁❊✚✙✁✛❇✧✫✦✾✿✝✧✫✙✁❦❛✬✝✯✖❂
✰❛✣✌❁✴✙✁❊✡✿✝✧✫✬✝✰ ❖❛❂ ✣✍✦ ✥✚❊✡✰✡✬✝✦ ✧✫✘✺✬ ✼❏✣✍❊✡✧♣✦✟✣✍✯ ✣✍★ ✧✫✘✚✬
q
❖❛✣✌✰✡❂
✣✍❦❛✬✝✦✟❊✡❁✴✬✝❊❛✧ ✷✙✖❊ ✐
ig ❝✌✥✚✼❴✘❬✼❴✣✌❊❛✧✫✦✟✣✍✯✩❁✴✥✚✛❇✧r❖❛✬❫✻✡✿✭✦✒✧✫✙✁✼❏✥✡✯✁✿✭✦❱✧✫✣✲✧✫✘✚✬✥✡✬✝✛❇✧✫✙✁✣✌❊ ✿✭❊✡✰ ❁✴✥✡✛❇✧❯❖✡✬ ✻✡✬✝✦✾❦❛✿✭✛■✙✁❦❛✬ ✷❈s ★❅✧✫✘✺✙✁✛❫✙✖✛
★✪✣✍✥✚❊✡✰t✧✫✘✚✬✝❊❉✧✫✘✚✬▼❖✡✣✌✰❛❂❵✙✖✛❈✿❆❝✍✧✫✿✝✧✫✬▼❘❙✙✸✧✫✘✚✙✖❊❫❡❢✦✒✧✫✙✖✼❴✯✖✬❜❣◗❤ ✷
On
the other hand, when the control is merely regulatory, whether
under statute or otherwise, it would not serve to make the body aState.”
9. In the present case, admittedly, the share capital of the
petitioner bank was not provided by the Government nor it is
getting any financial assistance by the Government. No director of
the petitioner-Bank is appointed by the Government nor the
Government has any direct control or interference in functioning
and management of the Bank. There are number of cooperative
banks/societies in the State of Maharashtra and they are registered
under the Maharashtra Co-operatives Societies Act. Admittedly, the
petitioner-Bank does not have any monopoly nor it has any State
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wp5666.07.sxw 14/19protection. As stated in Shamrao Vithal Co-op. Bank vs. Padubidri
(supra), the cooperative bank is not discharging any governmental
function and the functions of the bank can be carried out by any
private individual or by institution registered under the appropriate
law. Admittedly, the petitioner-Bank was also not originally
government department which was reregisterd as Bank. In the
present case, there is nothing to show that the State exercises any
direct or indirect control over the affairs of the Bank for deep and
pervasive control on the basis of which it can be said that the
petitioner-bank is “State” or “public authority”. As pointed out
earlier in the present matter we have to find out whether the
petitioner-Bank is controlled by the government, if ‘yes’, it will be
“public authority” , and, if ‘no’, it will not be “public authority”
because none of the other requirements to make a institution a
“public authority” are available in the present case. ‘Control’ does
not mean ‘regulatory or statutory control’. In the case of Ajay Hasia
vs. Khalid Mujib Sehravardi reported in AIR 1981 SC 487 three
Judges’ Bench of the Supreme Court had laid down the law and it
was reiterated by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in
the case of Pradeep Kumar Biswas vs. Indian Institute of Chemical
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Biology – (2002) 5 SCC 111and the observations of the Supreme
Court in Pradeep Kumar vs. Indian Institute were reiterated in the
case of S.S. Rana vs. Registrar, Co-Op. Societies, as quoted above.
Thus, it is clear that the control must be particular to the body in
question and it must be deep and pervasive. If this is found then
such body is “State” within the meaning of Article 12 of the
Constitution of India or a “public authority” within the meaning of
Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act. When the control is
merely regulatory; whether under statute or otherwise, it would not
serve to make the body a “State” or “public authority”. In view of
the full Bench authority of this Court in the case of S. V. Co-Op.
Bank Vs. Padubidri and in view of law laid down by the Supreme
Court in several authorities, it is clear that in absence of existence of
deep and pervasive control with reference to the institution, it
cannot be called a “State” or “public authority” within the meaning
of the Right to Information Act.
10. The State Information Commissioner referred to the case of
Prabhu Shriram Cooperative Milk Society Vs. State of Maharashtra –
1999 (1) Mh. L. J. -619. However, on perusal of the observations
made in the said judgment and referred to by the State Information
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Commissioner, it is clear that this Court was dealing with the
question in what circumstances the cooperative Societies are
registered and in that reference it was observed that Section 4 of the
Societies Act permits registration of a society having its objects, the
promotion of economic interest or general welfare of its members or
of the public in accordance with the co-operative principles and
proviso to Section 4 prohibits registration of any society if it is likely
to be economically unsound or if the registration of such a society
might have an adverse effect on the development of the cooperative
movement. Further the Court considered what amounts to a public
interest. In that case the Court was not considering whether the
Cooperative Bank is a “public authority” within the meaning of
Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act or a “State” within the
meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution. The learned State
Information Commissioner also noted that Justice P. B. Sawant, a
retired Judge, had made certain recommendations in draft proposal
submitted to the Central Government so as to include “public
interest” as one of the criteria of the public authority under the
Right to Information Act and in view of the said recommendation in
the draft proposal and in view of the meaning of the public interest
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wp5666.07.sxw 17/19
as elaborated by this Court in the case of Prabhu Shriram
Cooperative Milk Society Vs. State of Maharashtra, the State
Information Commissioner came to conclusion that the public
interest is relevant because the cooperative banks are dealing with
the deposits from the public and it is necessary that the cooperative
banks should function in the best interest of the public funds and it
will be in the public interest to know if there is is any
misappropriation, etc.
11. In my considered opinion, the State Information
Commissioner had mislead himself. He was not required to find
that what would be in the public interest. He was to first find out
whether the petitioner is a “public authority” within the definition
of Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act. If, yes, then only
the Act would be application and if, no, the said Act is not
application.
12. Observations in Prabhu Shriram Cooperative Milk Society
were not relevant for decision of this matter. Mere
recommendation or suggestion to amend the law, does not change
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the law unless the amendment is actually made by the legislature.
In view of the fact and legal position discussed earlier, it must be
held that the petitioner-Bank is not a “public Authority” within the
meaning of Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act.
13. Section 4 and 5 of the Right to Information Act provide
about obligations of public authorities and it directs the public
authority to appoint Public Information Officer, etc. Under Section 6
request for obtaining information can be made from the public
authority. If it is not a public authority, the information cannot be
sought under the Right to Information Act. The learned Counsel for
the petitioner conceded that respondent No. 3 being the share
holder and member of the petitioner-Bank is entitled to make an
application for getting information under Section 32 of the Societies
Act and if he makes such an application, the Bank would be
statutorily obliged to provide information as per law. That is totally
a different point. Right to seek information is given to the share
holders of the cooperative societies under the Societies Act but
certainly respondent No. 3 could not seek information about the
petitioner-Bank under the Right to Information Act.
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14. In view of the facts and legal position stated above, I find
that the State Information Commissioner committed error in
allowing the appeals filed by respondent No. 3. Therefore, it is
necessary to intervene and set aside the impugned order.
15. Writ petition is allowed. The impugned order passed by
the State Information Commissioner is hereby set aside.
JUDGE
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