JUDGMENT

K. Ramaswamy, J.—Leave granted.

We have heard learned counsel on both sides.

2. This appeal by special leave arises from the judgment of the Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Jabalpur Bench passed on January 22, 1997 in Writ Petition No. 5143/96.

3. Section 2(a-i) of the Madhya Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (Act 17 of 1961) (for short, ‘the Act’) defines ‘Apex Society’ to mean a society whose principal object is to provide facilities for the operation of other societies affiliated to it and whose area of operation extends to the whole State of Madhya Pradesh. Section 2(c-i) defines ‘Central Society’ to mean a Co-operative Land Development Bank or any other society whose area of operation is confined to a part of the State and which has as its principal object the promotion of the principal object and the provision of facilities for the operation of same type of societies and for other societies affiliated to it and not less than five members of which are societies. Section 2(c-ii) defines ‘Central Cooperative Bank’ to mean a resource society registered or deemed to be registered under this Act. Section 2(d) defines ‘Committee’ to mean the Board of a