AIR 2012 DELHI 112

Delhi High Court

Hon'ble Judge(s): Vipin Sanghi , J

Right to Information Act (22 of 2005) , S.2(h)— Multi State Co-operative Societies Act (39 of 2002) , S.61— 'Public authority' - Northern Zone Railway Employees Co-operative Thrift and Credit Society, registered under 2002 Act - Is not a 'public authority' - Since it is neither a statutory corporation nor substantially financed by Govt. Northern Zone Railway Employees Cooperative Thrift and Credit Society, registered under 2002 Act is not a statutory corporation as it is a co-operative society stated to have been constituted in the year 1960. Petitioner society does not receive any funds or financial aid from the Government. Even if the petitioner society is provided some facilities in the nature of accommodation on a reasonable rent or rent free accommodation, and its office bearers are provided casual leaves or special passes for travel on the railways to attend the affairs of the co-operative society, the same cannot be said to be a provision of "substantial finance" by the appropriate Government, i.e. the Central Government to the petitioner co-operative society. Firstly, these facilities are provided to the office bearers, and not to the petitioner society. Secondly, the respondents have not been able to show that the said facilities and amenities provided by the Central Government/Railways forms a significant fraction of the funds genera....