Madras High Court
The Management vs The State Information ... on 14 June, 2022
W.P. No. 4014, 3268 & 46 of 2022
& WMP Nos.4158, 46, 3402, 3403 & 4157 of 2022
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 14.06.2022
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE
W.P. Nos. 4014, 3268 & 46 of 2022
&
WMP Nos.4158, 46, 3402, 3403 & 4157 of 2022
W.P. NO. 4014 of 2022
The Management,
Z.573, Semmangudi Primary Agricultural
Co-operative Credit Society,
Rep by its President,
Semmangudi, Sirkazhi Taluk,
Mayiladuthurai District. ...Petitioner
..Vs..
1. The State Information Commissioner,
Tamil Nadu Information Commissioner,
No.2, Thiyagaraya Road, Teynampet,
Eldams Road Junction, Chennai 600 018.
2. The Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies,
Nagapattinam Circle,
Nagapattinam District.
3. The Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies,
Mayiladuthurai Circle,
Mayiladuthurai District.
4. P. Ezhilnathan ...Respondents
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P. No. 4014, 3268 & 46 of 2022
& WMP Nos.4158, 46, 3402, 3403 & 4157 of 2022
W.P. NO. 3268 of 2022
E.H. 131, Kalikkavalasu Primary cum
Industrial Handloom Weavers Cooperative
Production and Sale Society Ltd.,
Rep. by its President,
N. Govindasamy
S/o. Nanjappa Gounder
Kalikkavalasu, Murugatholuvu,
Erode Taluk & District 638 051. ...Petitioner
Vs.
1. The Appellate Authority /
Assistant Director of Handloom and Textiles,
O/o. Assistant Director of Handloom and Textiles,
Erode, Erode District.
2. The Information Officer / Managing Director
E.H. 131, Kalikkavalasu Primary cum
Industrial Handloom Weavers Cooperative
Production and Sale Society Ltd.,
Murugatholuvu Post, Chennimalai 638 051
Erode District.
3. V. Muruganandam ...Respondents
W.P. No.46 of 2022
K. 2034 Pettikuttai Primary Agricultural
Cooperative Credit Society,
Rep. by its President
S. Rangasamy
S/o. Subbaiah Kavudar,
Pettikuttai Post,
Mettupalayam Taluk, Coimbatore 638 459. ...Petitioner
Vs.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P. No. 4014, 3268 & 46 of 2022
& WMP Nos.4158, 46, 3402, 3403 & 4157 of 2022
1. The General Manager
Coimbatore District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd.
Coimbatore 18.
2. K. Kanakaraj ...Respondents
Prayer in W.P. No.4014 of 2022: Writ Petition filed under Article 226
of Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari to call for
the records relating to the impugned proceedings in
Na.Ka.1704/2021/Pa.tho. dated 06.01.2022 passed by the 3rd respondent
and the S.A. No.11123/A/2021 dated 10.11.2021 on the file of the 1st
respondent and quash the same.
Prayer in W.P. No.3268 of 2022: Writ Petition filed under Article 226
of Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for
the entire records relating to the impugned order passed by the 1st
respondent in his proceedings Mae.Mu.Ma.No.91/2022/G dated
06.01.2022 and quash the same.
Prayer in W.P. No.46 of 2022: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of
Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for the
entire records relating to the impugned order passed by the 1st
respondent in his proceedings Na.Ka. No.02788/2012/Vae.Ka.1 dated
04.12.2021 and quash the same.
W.P. No.4014 of 2022
For Petitioner : Mr.R. Balaramesh
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P. No. 4014, 3268 & 46 of 2022
& WMP Nos.4158, 46, 3402, 3403 & 4157 of 2022
For R1 : Mr. C. Vigneswaran
For R2 & R3 : Mr. B. Vijay
Additional Government Pleader
W.P. No.3268 of 2022
For Petitioner : Mr. C. Prakasam
For R1 & R2 : Mr. B. Vijay
Additional Government Pleader
W.P. No.46 of 2022
For Petitioner : Mr. C. Prakasam
For R1 : Mr. B. Vijay
Additional Government Pleader
COMMON ORDER
These Writ Petitions have been filed by the Cooperative Societies
challenging the impugned orders passed under the Right to Information
Act.
2. They have challenged the impugned orders on the ground that,
as cooperative societies, they do not fall within the ambit of the Right to
Information Act. The law is now well settled by the following decisions,
wherein it has been held that a cooperative society will not fall within the
purview of the Right to Information Act.
a) MANU/SC/1020/2013 - Thalappalam Ser. Coop. Bank Ltd., and
Ors. Vs. State of Kerala and Ors.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P. No. 4014, 3268 & 46 of 2022
& WMP Nos.4158, 46, 3402, 3403 & 4157 of 2022
b) 2015 SCC Online Mad 13911 - Public Information Officer,
Illayankudi Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd., Sivagangai District.
c) 2020 SCC Online Mad 11087 - G. Chinnathambi versus Tamil
Nadu Information Commission and others versus Registrar, Tamil
Nadu Information Commission, Chennai and others.
d) Judgment made in W.A. Nos.273 and 274 of 2022 & CMP Nos.193
and 1961 of 2022.
3. In view of the settled law, as laid down by the aforesaid
decisions, the impugned orders have to be necessarily quashed and the
Writ Petitions will have to be allowed. Accordingly, the impugned orders
dated 06.01.2022, 06.01.2022 and 04.12.2021 respectively, which are
the subject matters of these Writ Petitions are hereby quashed and the
Writ Petitions are allowed. No Costs. Consequently, connected
miscellaneous petitions are closed.
14.06.2022
Index : Yes / No
Internet : Yes / No
bga
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P. No. 4014, 3268 & 46 of 2022
& WMP Nos.4158, 46, 3402, 3403 & 4157 of 2022
To
1. The State Information Commissioner,
Tamil Nadu Information Commissioner,
No.2, Thiyagaraya Road, Teynampet,
Eldams Road Junction, Chennai 600 018.
2. The Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies,
Nagapattinam Circle,
Nagapattinam District.
3. The Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies,
Mayiladuthurai Circle,
Mayiladuthurai District.
4. The Appellate Authority /
Assistant Director of Handloom and Textiles,
O/o. Assistant Director of Handloom and Textiles,
Erode, Erode District.
5. The Information Officer / Managing Director
E.H. 131, Kalikkavalasu Primary cum
Industrial Handloom Weavers Cooperative
Production and Sale Society Ltd.,
Murugatholuvu Post, Chennimalai 638 051
Erode District.
6. The General Manager
Coimbatore District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd.
Coimbatore 18.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.P. No. 4014, 3268 & 46 of 2022
& WMP Nos.4158, 46, 3402, 3403 & 4157 of 2022
ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J.
Bga
W.P. Nos. 4014, 3268 & 46 of 2022
&
WMP Nos.4158, 46, 3402, 3403 & 4157 of 2022
14.06.2022
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
