JUDGMENT

BALAKRISHNA ERADI, J.:— These two appeals are directed against the judgments of the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissing two Writ Petitions filed by the appellants herein namely the Andhra University and the Osmania University challenging the legality and validity of the notices issued to the two Universities by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh intimating that the Departments of Publications and Press wherein printing presses were being run by the two Universities, were liable for coverage under the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act (hereinafter called the Act and Scheme) and calling upon the two Universities to submit their monthly returns and remit the amounts of contribution as required by the provisions of the Scheme. The appeals have been filed on the basis of certificates of fitness granted by the High Court under Article 133(1)(c) of the Constitution.

2. The common contention taken by the appellants herein in the two Writ Petitions was that the Universities are purely educational institutions having a number of departments, the main object of which is, to impart education to the youth of the country in various branch