CHENNAKESAV REDDY, J.

( 1 ) THE problem that stands pre-eminently to the fore in this writ petition is whether the petitioner -- The Warrangal Chamber of Commerce, a corporate body, can maintain a writ of Mandamus on behalf of its members, under Article 226 of the Constitution. When the case came on for hearing before our learned brother, Obul Reddi, J. his Lordship referred the matter to a Division Bench in view of the importance of the issue involved in the case and the conflicting course of judicial authority obscuring the principles governing the same.

( 2 ) BEFORE we proceed to set out our answer, the essential facts may be shortly stated. The petitioner is a corporate body registered as a non-trading company under the Andhra Pradesh Non-Trading Companies Act. 1962 (Act II of 1962 ). Several licensed commission agents, dealing in agricultural produce and livestock, are its members. The objects of the petitioner-Chamber of Commerce are: to promote, encourage, aid and protect trade, commerce and industries in Warangal District in general and within the municipal limits of Warangal town in particular in the State of Andhra Pradesh.

( 3 ) UNDER the Andhra Pradesh (Agricultural Pro

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