Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan, J.

1. These writ petitions are filed challenging an order of the Commissioner of the Malabar Devaswom Board, hereinafter referred to as the "MDB", designating Executive Officers/ Managers/ Trustees/ Chairmen/ Madathipathis/ Managing Trustees/ Presidents/ Secretaries or any other authority, of whatever designation, carrying out the administration of temples which fall under the jurisdiction of the MDB as State Public Information Officers under section 5(1) of the Right To Information Act, 2005, hereinafter referred to as the "RTI Act". Also impugned in one of the writ petitions, is an appellate decision rendered under the provisions of the RTI Act, repelling the contentions of one of the petitioners, who stood relegated to that authority by an order of this Court.

2. The petitioners are different Devaswoms/ Hereditary Trustees/ Trustees/ Executive Officers of different Devaswoms which administer different temples to which the provisions of the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951, hereinafter referred to as the "HR & CE Act", apply. They contend that they do not fall within the expression "public authority" under the RT