{"id":257406,"date":"2010-10-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-10-28T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-agriculture-produce-market-vs-meghraj-pundlikrao-dongre-on-29-october-2010"},"modified":"2016-09-09T22:18:13","modified_gmt":"2016-09-09T16:48:13","slug":"the-agriculture-produce-market-vs-meghraj-pundlikrao-dongre-on-29-october-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-agriculture-produce-market-vs-meghraj-pundlikrao-dongre-on-29-october-2010","title":{"rendered":"The Agriculture Produce Market … vs Meghraj Pundlikrao Dongre on 29 October, 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"
Bombay High Court<\/div>\n
The Agriculture Produce Market … vs Meghraj Pundlikrao Dongre on 29 October, 2010<\/div>\n
Bench: J.P. Devadhar, A. B. Chaudhari<\/div>\n
                                    1\n\n\n\n\n                                                                           \n               IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY,\n\n\n\n\n                                                   \n                           NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR\n\n\n                 LETTERS PATENT APPEAL NO. 489 OF 2010 IN\n\n\n\n\n                                                  \n                     WRIT PETITION NO. 3871 OF 2010 (D)\n\n\n\n\n                                        \n    The Agriculture Produce Market Committee,\n    Through its Secretary, Tq. Arvi,\n                               \n    Distt. Wardha.                                ........        APPELLANT\n                              \n           \/\/ VERSUS \/\/\n             \n\n\n    1. Meghraj Pundlikrao Dongre,\n          \n\n\n\n       r\/o. Pipla Rehabilitation Arvi,\n       Tq. Arvi, Distt. Wardha.\n\n    2. District Deputy Registrar,\n\n\n\n\n\n       Tq. Arvi, District Wardha.\n\n    3.   State Commissioner,\n         Nagpur Bench, Civil Lines,\n         Nagpur.                                ........     RESPONDENTS\n\n\n\n\n\n-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=\n                 Mr. A. Desai, Adv. for the Appellant.\n                 A.G.P. for Respondent No.2 and 3.\n-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=\n\n\n\n\n                                                   ::: Downloaded on - 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::\n                                  2\n\n                                           Coram: J. P.DEVADHAR AND\n                                                  A. B. CHAUDHARI, JJ.\n\n\n\n\n                                                                              \nDate of reserving the Judgment   :                12.10.2010.\nDate of pronouncing the judgment :                29.10.2010.\n\n\n\n\n                                                      \nJUDGMENT        (Per A. B. Chaudhari, J)\n<\/pre>\n
1.          Heard.\n<\/p>\n
2.          Admit.\n<\/p>\n
3.          Assistant Government Pleader waives service for respondent<\/p>\n
nos. 2 and 3.\n<\/p>\n
4.          The instant appeal is taken up for final disposal by the consent<\/p>\n
of the learned Counsel for the rival parties.\n<\/p>\n
5.          The judgment and order dt. 16.8.2010 passed by the learned<\/p>\n
Single Judge of this Court in Writ Petition No. 3871            of 2010 is under<\/p>\n
challenge in the present Letters Patent Appeal. In support of the appeal,<\/p>\n
Mr.Anupam Desai, learned Counsel for the appellant made the following<\/p>\n
submissions :\n<\/p>\n
       a)            The   appellant\/Agricultural      Produce             Market<\/p>\n
       Committee, Arvi is not a ‘public authority’ within the meaning<\/p>\n
       of Section 2 (h) of the Right to Information Act<\/a>, 2005<\/p>\n
       (hereinafter referred to as “the RTI Act<\/a>“) and therefore, the RTI<\/p>\n
                                                      ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>
\n                              3<\/span><\/p>\n
    Act is not applicable to the Appellant\/Committee. If the Act<\/a><\/p>\n
    itself does not apply to the Committee, the question of<\/p>\n
    supplying an information even under Section 2<\/a> (f) of the RTI<\/p>\n
    Act<\/a> does not arise and therefore, the learned Single Judge<\/p>\n
    erred in dismissing the Writ Petition filed by the appellant.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    b)           A Single Judge of this Court in the case of<\/p>\n
    Dr.Panjabrao Deshmukh Urban Co-operative Bank, Amravati<\/p>\n
    vs. State Information Commissioner, Vidarbha Region, Nagpur<\/p>\n
    and Others in Writ Petition No. 5666 of 2007, decided on<\/p>\n
    13.1.2009 held that the Co-operative Bank is not a ‘public<\/p>\n
    authority’ within the meaning of Section 2<\/a> (h) of the RTI Act<\/a>. It<\/p>\n
    was further held that the said bank is neither            owned nor<\/p>\n
    substantially financed by the State Government nor it is<\/p>\n
    controlled   by   the   State   Government      or     the      Central<\/p>\n
    Government. This Court held in the said decision that the<\/p>\n
    Directors of the said Cooperative Bank were not appointed by<\/p>\n
    the Government nor the Government has any direct or<\/p>\n
    indirect control over the functioning and management of the<\/p>\n
    bank. He, therefore, submitted that the said decision has<\/p>\n
    application in the instant case and the Single Judge ought to<\/p>\n
    have followed the same.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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\n                                 4<\/span><\/p>\n
6.        The learned Counsel for the Appellant invited our attention to<\/p>\n
another   decision   dt.   1.10.2009   made   by   the     State       Information<\/p>\n
Commissioner, Amravati Bench, Amravati in Appeal No.1441 of 2008<\/p>\n
(Jitendra Ashok Kuyre vs. First Appellate Officer and Office of the Assistant<\/p>\n
Registrar, Khamgaon and one another) wherein the APMC, Khamgaon,<\/p>\n
District Buldhana was held to be a Society which did not fall within the<\/p>\n
definition of ‘public undertaking’ and the said State Information<\/p>\n
Commissioner, therefore, relied upon the said decision of the Single Judge<\/p>\n
of this Court.\n<\/p>\n
7.        We have heard the learned Counsel for the appellant and we<\/p>\n
have also perused the impugned judgment and order, so also the<\/p>\n
judgment rendered by the learned Single Judge of this Court in Writ<\/p>\n
Petition No.5666 of 2007, dt. 13.1.2009. It is necessary to have a look at<\/p>\n
the relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing<\/p>\n
(Development and Regulation) Act<\/a>, 1963 (hereinafter referred to as “the<\/p>\n
APMC Act”). Section 2<\/a> (j) of the APMC Act reads thus :\n<\/p>\n
        “2 (j)   ‘Market Committee” or ” Committee” means a
\n        committee constituted for a market area under section 11<\/a>
\n        {and includes (The Bombay Agricultural Produce Market
\n        Committee established under clause (a) of sub-section (1A)<\/p>\n
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\n                                5<\/span><\/p>\n
       (and the Divisional or Regional Market Committee declared
\n       under clause (a) of sub-section (1B) of section 13<\/a> and} a<\/p>\n
       committee or committees constituted as a result or
\n       amalgamation of Market Committee or division of             Market<\/p>\n
       Committee under section 44<\/a>}<\/p>\n
          It shows that a Market Committee means a Committee<\/p>\n
constituted u\/s. 11.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
8.        Section 11<\/a> is contained in Chapter III of the APMC Act which<\/p>\n
reads thus :\n<\/p>\n
          “11. Establishment of Market Committees.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
                   For every market area, there shall be established by<\/p>\n
         the State Government a Market Committee consisting of a<\/p>\n
         Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and other members and different<\/p>\n
         Market Committees may be established for regulating the<\/p>\n
         marketing of different kinds of agricultural produce for the same<\/p>\n
         market area or any part thereof. The Market Committee shall<\/p>\n
         have all such powers and discharge all such functions as are<\/p>\n
         vested in it by or under this Act. ”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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\n                                  6<\/span><\/p>\n
    9.    Section 12<\/a> (2) reads thus :\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
          12. Incorporation of Market Committees.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
          { (1) ………\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
            (2)      Notwithstanding anything contained in any
\n          law for the     time being in force, every Market
\n          Committee, shall, for all purposes be deemed to be a<\/p>\n
          local authority}.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    10.   Section 13<\/a> reads thus :\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
          13. Constitution of Market Committees.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
          1.         Subject to the provisions of Sub-section (2),<\/p>\n
          every Market Committee consists of the following (——-)
\n          members), namely :-<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
          {(a)       [fifteen agriculturists residing in the market
\n          area (being persons whose names appear in the voter’s
\n          list for the concerned constituency and who are not less<\/p>\n
          than twenty one years of age on the date specified, from
\n          time to time, by the Collector or the District Deputy
\n          Registrar, as the case may be, in this behalf), as
\n          specified below :- ]<\/p>\n
                                                 ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>
\n                         7<\/span><\/p>\n
    (I)      eleven (of which, two shall be women, one shall
\n    be a person belonging to Other Backward Classes and<\/p>\n
    one shall be a person belonging to De-notified Tribes
\n    (Vimukta Jatis) or Nomadic Tribes) shall be elected by<\/p>\n
    members of the Managing Committees of the Agricultural
\n    Credit Societies and Multi-purpose Co-operative Societies
\n    (withing the meaning of the Maharashtra Co-operative<\/p>\n
    Societies Act, 1960 and the rules made thereunder),
\n    functioning in the market area :\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    Provided that, where the market Committee is situated<\/p>\n
    in Tribal areas, one person belonging to the Scheduled
\n    Tribes shall be elected in place of the election of the<\/p>\n
    person belonging to the De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis)
\n    or Nomadic Tribes as aforesaid; and<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
    (ii)      four (of which, one shall be a person belonging
\n    to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and one<\/p>\n
    shall be a person belonging to Economically Weaker
\n    Section), shall be elected by members of village<\/p>\n
    Panchayats functioning therein;]
\n    [(b)     two shall be elected by traders and commission
\n    agents, holding licenses for not less than two years to
\n    operate as such in the market area;]<\/p>\n
    [(b-1)   one member shall be elected by hamals and
\n    weighmen operating as such in the market area;]
\n    ( c)     one shall be the Chairman of the co-operative
\n    society doing business of processing or marketing of
\n    agricultural produce in the market area [having its<\/p>\n
                                           ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>
\n                          8<\/span><\/p>\n
    registered office situated in the same market area] ; or in
\n    his absence a representative of the co-operative society<\/p>\n
    elected by its managing committee :\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    Provided that, if there be more than one such Co-\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    operative Societies in the market area, then the
\n    Chairman of any one of such Co-operative Societies or in
\n    his absence a representative, elected by the managing<\/p>\n
    committees of such society;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (d)        One shall be the Chairman of the Panchayats
\n    Samiti within the jurisdiction of which the market area or<\/p>\n
    major portion thereof is situated of the representative<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
    (e)<\/p>\n
    elected by such Panchayat Samiti;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
              One shall be the President or Sarpanch of the<\/p>\n
    local authority (other than a Panchayat Samiti) within the
\n    jurisdiction of which the principal market is situated or
\n    the representative elected by such local authority;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (f)       The Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies
\n    of the district or his representative, who shall have no<\/p>\n
    right to vote;]\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (g)       the Secretary of the Market Committee, who<\/p>\n
    shall have no right to vote;]
\n    [(1-a)    A person who is a member of the Market
\n    Committee under clauses ( c), (d) and (e) shall have right
\n    to take part in the discussions of the Committee, but<\/p>\n
    shall have no right to note at a meeting thereof.]
\n    [[(1A) (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-
\n    section (1) of this section or in section 4<\/a> or other
\n    provisions of this Act, the area comprising Greater
\n    Bombay and Turbhe Village in Thane Taluka of Thane<\/p>\n
                                            ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>
\n                          9<\/span><\/p>\n
    District [and such other area or areas as may be
\n    specified by the State Government by notification in the<\/p>\n
    Official Gazette from time to time] (hereinafter referred
\n    to as “the Bombay Market area”) shall be deemed to be<\/p>\n
    a market area for the purposes of this Act, and the
\n    Market Committee for that area to be called by the name
\n    of the Bombay Agricultural Produce Market Committee<\/p>\n
    shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), consist
\n    of the following (———- members], namely :-\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (i)       twelve representatives of agriculturists elected<\/p>\n
    by the agriculturist members of the other Agricultural
\n    Produce Market Committees in the State, [two such<\/p>\n
    members] to be elected from each Revenue Division;
\n    [(ii)     five representatives, elected by the traders and
\n    commission agents, holding licenses to operate as such<\/p>\n
    in the Bombay market area, as specified below, —\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (A)       one representative dealing in onion, potato and
\n    garlic, elected by and from amongst themselves;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (B)       One representative dealing in fruits, elected by
\n    and from amongst themselves;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    ( C)      one   representative   dealing    in     vegetables,
\n    elected by and from amongst themselves;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (D)       one   representative   dealing    in    food-grains,
\n    pulses, edible and non-edible oils, elected by and from
\n    amongst themselves;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
                                             ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>
\n                              10<\/span><\/p>\n
    (iii)     one nominated representative of the Navi
\n    Mumbai Municipal Corporation;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (iv)      one nominated representative of the Mumbai
\n    Municipal Corporation;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (v)       one nominated representative of the Mumbai
\n    Metropolitan Region Development Authority constituted
\n    under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development<\/p>\n
    Act, 1974;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (vi)      five representatives (of which, two shall be
\n    women, one shall be a person belonging to the<\/p>\n
    Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, one shall be a<\/p>\n
    person belonging to the Other Backward Classes and one
\n    shall be a person belonging to the De-notified Tribes<\/p>\n
    (Vimukta Jatis) or Nomadic Tribes), to be nominated by
\n    the State Government;]\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (vii)     the        Director     of     Agricultural      Marketing,<\/p>\n
    Maharashtra State, Pune;]
\n    [(viii)   […………]<\/p>\n
    [(ix)     […………]\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (b)       a person who is a member of the Market<\/p>\n
    Committee under sub-clauses (iii), (iv), (v) or (vii) of
\n    clause (a), shall have a right to take part in the
\n    discussions of the Committee, but shall not have a right
\n    to note at a meeting thereof.]<\/p>\n
    [(1B) (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in any
\n    provisions of this Act, the State Government may, by
\n    notification    in    the     Official   Gazette,       declare       any
\n    Agricultural Produce Market Committee to be the
\n    Divisional Market Committee for more than one districts<\/p>\n
                                                    ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>
\n                             11<\/span><\/p>\n
    or Regional Market Committee for more than one
\n    talukas.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (b)        The area specified by the State Government by
\n    notification in the Official Gazette, from time to time,<\/p>\n
    shall be deemed to be market area for the purpose of
\n    this Act and the Market Committee for that area shall be
\n    called by the name as may be notified by the State<\/p>\n
    Government and it shall function as the Divisional or
\n    Regional Market Committee.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (c)        The Divisional or Regional Market Committee<\/p>\n
    shall, subject to the provision of sub-section (2), consist<\/p>\n
    (I)        two<\/p>\n
    of following members, namely :-\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
                        representatives   of    the     agriculturists,<\/p>\n
    elected by the agriculturist members of the Agricultural
\n    Produce Market Committee from each district included in
\n    the     area   of   operation   of    the   Divisional        Market<\/p>\n
    Committee; or\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (ii)       one representatives from the agriculturists<\/p>\n
    elected by the agriculturist members of the Agricultural
\n    Produce Market Committee from each taluka included in<\/p>\n
    the area of operation of the Regional Market Committee;
\n    or\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (iii)      two representatives, elected by the traders and
\n    commission agents, holding licences to operate as such<\/p>\n
    in the market area;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (iv)       one representative, elected by the hamals and
\n    weighmen operating as such in the market area;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (v)        one representative of the State Marketing
\n    Board;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
                                                 ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>
\n                          12<\/span><\/p>\n
    (vi)      one     representative        of     the        Municipal
\n    Corporation or Municipal Council functioning at the Head<\/p>\n
    Quarter of the Market Committee;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    [(vi-a)   four representatives (of which one shall be<\/p>\n
    woman, one shall be a person belonging to Scheduled
\n    Castes or Scheduled Tribes, one shall be a person
\n    belonging to the Other Backward Classes and one shall<\/p>\n
    be a person belonging to the De-notified Tribes (Vimukta
\n    Jatis) or Nomadic Tribes) to be nominated by the State
\n    Government :\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    Committee    is<\/p>\n
    Provided that, where the Divisional or Regional Market
\n                      situated     in   Tribal   areas,     the      State<\/p>\n
    Government shall nominate the person belonging to the
\n    Scheduled Tribes in place of the person belonging to the
\n    De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis) or Nomadic Tribes;]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
    (vii)     The Director of marketing, Maharashtra State,<\/p>\n
    Pune or his representative.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (d)         A person who is a member of the Market<\/p>\n
    Committee under sub-clauses (v), (vi) and (vii) of clause\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
    (c) shall have a right to take part in the discussions of
\n    the Committee, but shall not have right to note at a
\n    meeting thereof;]<\/p>\n
    (2)       When a Market Committee is constituted for
\n    the first time [whether under sub-section (1) [(1A) or
\n    (1B)] all the members thereof and the Chairman and
\n    Vice-Chairman     shall   be    nominated       by      the      State
\n    Government :\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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\n                                 13<\/span><\/p>\n
           [Provided that, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be<\/p>\n
           so nominated from amongst the agriculturists members.]<\/p>\n
           [Provided further that, the State Government may, if it
\n           considers expedient, instead of nominating the members
\n           of the Market Committee constituted for the first time,<\/p>\n
           appoint an Administrator or the Board of Administrators,
\n           and the Administrator or the Board of Administrators, so
\n           appointed, shall, for all purposes, be considered to be<\/p>\n
           the committee constituted for the first time].\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
11.       Perusal of the above provisions shows that, in the Chapter of<\/p>\n
Constitution of Market Committees, Section 11 of the APMC Act provides<\/p>\n
for establishment of Market Committees. Section 12<\/a> (2) provides that<\/p>\n
such Market Committee shall for all purposes be deemed to be a local<\/p>\n
Authority. Needless to say that the local Authority is an institution of self-\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
government. Section 13<\/a> opens with the words “constitution of Market<\/p>\n
Committees”.      Sub-section (2) of Section 13<\/a> clearly provides for<\/p>\n
constitution of a Market committee for the first time either u\/s. 1, 1(A) or<\/p>\n
1 (B) and it is significant to note that when such Market Committee is<\/p>\n
constituted for the first time, it is the State Government which nominates<\/p>\n
the entire Market Committee and its Office bearers as per the said sub-\n<\/p>\n
section (2). It is, thus clear that the APMC Act itself constitutes or brings<\/p>\n
                                                    ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>
\n                                 14<\/span><\/p>\n
into existence the Market Committees by operation of the above said<\/p>\n
provisions of the Act and to reiterate the same, it is not by registration<\/p>\n
with any Authority appointed by the Government as is found in the case<\/p>\n
of the Co-operative Societies. Thus, the Market committee is brought into<\/p>\n
existence not by virtue of an act of any person to register a Market<\/p>\n
Committee like a Society and then bring it into existence, but a Market<\/p>\n
Committee comes into existence by virtue of operation of the provisions<\/p>\n
of the APMC Act, which is the law made by State Legislature. Not only<\/p>\n
that, Section 12<\/a> (2) clearly provides that every Market Committee shall<\/p>\n
for all purposes be deemed to be a local Authority.              Looked in this<\/p>\n
background, we quote the definition of “public authority”, as given in<\/p>\n
Section 2<\/a> (h) of the RTI Act<\/a>, which reads thus :\n<\/p>\n
        2 (h) : “public authority” means any authority or body or
\n        institution of self-government established or constituted –\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
        (a)       by or under the Constitution;\n        (b)       by any other law made by Parliament;\n        ( c)      by any other law made by State Legislature;\n        (d)       by notification issued or order made by the\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/pre>\n
                  appropriate Government, and includes any –\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
                 (i)         body owned, controlled or substantially
\n                 financed;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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\n                               15<\/span><\/p>\n
                 (ii)      non-Government                  organisation
\n                 substantially financed, directly or indirectly by<\/p>\n
                 funds provided by the appropriate Government;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
12.      Perusal of the above definition clearly shows that the APMC is<\/p>\n
an institution of self-government; that too, established and constituted<\/p>\n
by a law made by the State Legislature. Section 12<\/a> (2) of the APMC Act<\/p>\n
opens with a non-obstante clause and states that every Market<\/p>\n
Committee for all purposes, be deemed to be a local authority. At this<\/p>\n
juncture, we have noticed the Judgment of the Hon’ble Apex Court in the<\/p>\n
case of APMC, Narela .vs. CIT and another, [2008] 305 ITR 1 (SC),<\/p>\n
in which it is held that explanation to Section 10<\/a> (20) of the Income Tax<\/p>\n
Act<\/a>, 1961 as amended by the Finance Act<\/a>, 2002 does not cover APMC<\/p>\n
and hence, is not entitled to exemption. We thus find that there is clear<\/p>\n
distinguishing feature in not treating APMC as a ‘local authority’ under<\/p>\n
Income Tax Act<\/a>. But, by virtue of Section 12<\/a> (2) of the APMC Act, the<\/p>\n
Agricultural Produce Market Committee will fall within the meaning of<\/p>\n
‘local authority’ and consequently, under Section 2<\/a> (h) of the RTI Act<\/a>,<\/p>\n
2005. Insofar as the decision of the State Information Commissioner,<\/p>\n
Amravati Bench, Amravati is concerned, we find that the said<\/p>\n
Commissioner clearly erred in treating a Market Committee under APMC<\/p>\n
Act and Co-operative Society under the Maharashtra Co-operative<\/p>\n
                                                 ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>
\n                                16<\/span><\/p>\n
Societies Act<\/a>, 1960 as one and the same thing.                   The Learned<\/p>\n
Commissioner also erred in holding that the        Khamgaon APMC is a<\/p>\n
Society and following the decision of the Single Judge of this Court<\/p>\n
delivered in Writ Petition No. 5666 of 2007 (cited supra) in respect of Co-\n<\/p>\n
operative Society, he wrongly held that the RTI Act<\/a> will not apply to<\/p>\n
Khamgaon APMC. The decision recorded by the said Commissioner is<\/p>\n
thus illegal.\n<\/p>\n
13.        We find that the judgment in the case of Dr.Punjabrao<\/p>\n
Deshmukh Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd. (cited supra) dt. 13.1.2009 was<\/p>\n
in relation to a Co-operative Society\/bank and therefore, it cannot be<\/p>\n
made applicable to a case relating to the Market Committee under the<\/p>\n
APMC Act.\n<\/p>\n
14.        We, thus, hold that the appellant\/Market Committee                       is<\/p>\n
established and constituted as an institution of self-government and is a<\/p>\n
local Authority and by law made by the State Legislature. Consequently,<\/p>\n
the provisions of the RTI Act<\/a> do apply to the appellant\/APMC. Before<\/p>\n
parting with the judgment, looking to the increase in number of scams in<\/p>\n
the Co-operative Credit Societies, Urban and Other Co-operative banks<\/p>\n
due to frauds played by the persons within the Society or the bank<\/p>\n
causing severe losses to the poor depositors and since the money of the<\/p>\n
                                                  ::: Downloaded on – 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>
\n                                17<\/span><\/p>\n
depositors is involved in such Societies\/banks, it would be far better to<\/p>\n
cover all the Co-operative Credit Societies\/banks etc. under the RTI Act<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n
We recommend accordingly to the Central Government. In the result, we<\/p>\n
find no merit in the present appeal. Hence, the L.P.A. is dismissed.\n<\/p>\n
15.       Copy of this Judgment be forwarded to the Ministry of Law and<\/p>\n
Justice, New Delhi, for information.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n\n                                        \n                    JUDGE\n                             ig                                  JUDGE\n                           \njaiswal\n            \n         \n\n\n\n\n\n\n                                                  ::: Downloaded on - 09\/06\/2013 16:35:40 :::<\/span>\n <\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bombay High Court The Agriculture Produce Market … vs Meghraj Pundlikrao Dongre on 29 October, 2010 Bench: J.P. Devadhar, A. B. Chaudhari 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY, NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR LETTERS PATENT APPEAL NO. 489 OF 2010 IN WRIT PETITION NO. 3871 OF 2010 (D) The Agriculture Produce Market Committee, Through […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-257406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bombay-high-court","category-high-court"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Agriculture Produce Market ... vs Meghraj Pundlikrao Dongre on 29 October, 2010 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court & High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/the-agriculture-produce-market-vs-meghraj-pundlikrao-dongre-on-29-october-2010\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Agriculture Produce Market ... vs Meghraj Pundlikrao Dongre on 29 October, 2010 - 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