The petitioners are members of the first respondent, the Palakkad District Cricket Association (‘the Association’ for short). The Association is a body affiliated to the Kerala Cricket Association. Exhibits P3 to P6 notices, by which the Association has prevented the petitioners from participating in its activities and Exhibits P11 to P14 notices by which the Association has called upon the petitioners to show cause why they shall not be removed from the membership of the Association, are under challenge in this Writ Petition.

2. When the Writ Petition came up for admission, the respondents entered appearance and opposed the admission on the ground that the Writ Petition is not maintainable. The parties were, accordingly, heard on the question of maintainability of the Writ Petition.

3. A writ of certiorari is sought in this matter to quash Exts.P3 to P6 and P11 to P14 notices issued by the Association. The contention of the respondents is that the Association is neither a State nor an instrumentality of a State and that therefore, it is not amenable to the writ jurisdiction of this Court. The fact that the Association is neither a State nor an instrumentality of a State is