JUDGMENT

Sawant, J.

1. Leave granted.

2 These two appeals are directed against the common judgment of the High Court delivered, among others, in two writ petitions, viz., W.P. Nos. 9824 and 9825 of 1992. The appellant who was one of the respondents in the said petitions was at the relevant time the Chief Minister of the State of Andhra Pradesh. The High Court by its impugned decision has quashed the permission granted to a society to start medical and dental colleges. The said Society was managed, among others, by the wife and brother of the appellant. In order to appreciate the controversy it is first necessary to refer to the relevant legal provisions.

The establishment, recognition and conduct of educational institutions in the State are governed by the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Education Act, 1982 [hereinafter referred to as the "Act"]. Section 2 [12] of the Act defines "competent authority" to mean any person, officer or authority authorised by the State Government by notification to perform the functions of the competent authority under Act for such area or for such purposes as may be specified in the notification. The competent authority so notified by the Government, is entr