JUDGMENT

D. A. DESAI, J.:— In this group of writ petition, civil appeal, special leave petition and review petitions. a common question of law is raised whether Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR for short) and its affiliate Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI for short) are either themselves the State or such other authority as would be comprehended in the expression Other authority in Article 12 of the Constitution?Re: W. P. No. 587/75 :

2. Petitioner No. 1 was Professor of Animal Pathology, petitioner No. 2 was Professor of Animal Genetics and petitioner No. 3 was Professor of Veterinary Parasitology, ail attached to IVRI Six posts of Professors one each in Animal Pathology, Animal Genetics, Veterinary Parasitology, Animal Nutrition, Bacteriology and Physiology were created on the introduction of the post-graduate wing in IVRI in 1958. At the relevant time the post of Professor carried the scale of Rs. 700-1250. Of the six posts, first mentioned, three posts of Profesors were held by the petitioners in their respective discipline. On the introduction of the scales recommended by the University Grants Commission, the pay scale attached to the post of Professor in