"C.R."

1. These writ petitions raise the question of applicability of the Right to Information Act, 2005, hereinafter, the RTI Act, to co-operative societies registered under the Kerala Co- operative Societies Act, 1969, for short, the KCS Act.

2. The Registrar of Co-operative Societies issued circular No.23/06, taking the view that all cooperative societies registered under the KCS Act, hereinafter, for short, the societies, are under the administrative control of the Registrar and therefore, public authorities for the purpose of the RTI Act. Directions were hence issued, requiring all societies to discharge the obligations as public authorities under the RTI Act and to follow the procedure stated therein.

The Information Officers in the Co-operative Department of the State Government commenced acting on complaints of non-consideration of requests for information made by different persons to societies. These writ petitions are hence filed, seeking to quash the aforesaid circular and for a declaration that the RTI Act does not apply to societies registered under the KCS Act. Certain actions taken by the officers under the KCS Act and orders issued by the State Informatio