Ramesh Ranganathan, J.

Is the Director, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Hyderabad, (a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860), an officer of the Central Government not below the rank of Deputy Secretary? It is only if he is, would he be eligible, under Section 11(1) of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 (S.E.Z. Act), to be appointed as a Development Commissioner of one or more Special Economic Zones. The petitioner herein seeks a writ of quo warranto to quash and set aside the order of the first respondent, as published in the Gazette of India dated 12.11.2007, appointing the 5th respondent as the Development Commissioner of thirty Special Economic Zones in Andhra Pradesh.

Facts, in brief, are that the Government of India, by resolution dated 18.12.1986, announced its policy on software export, software development and training. The resolution provided for an inter-ministerial standing committee to function as an effective instrument for single point clearance and for coordination of all cases of software development and export. Thereafter, on 5.6.1991, STPI was registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The In