M D SAMPATH Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In these writ petitions, common questions arise for consideration. Hence, they are clubbed, heard together and are disposed of by this common order. Petitioners are aggrieved by the notification dated 23.02.2011 issued by the Government; of Karnataka, whereby the nomination of the petitioners as Members of the Managing Committee of the Academy of Sanskrit Research, Melkote, has been withdrawn and respondents 3 to 5 are nominated as Members of the Committee. A corrigendum is issued on 03.03 2011 vide Annexure-B to correct the notification Annexure-A, so as to substitute the expression "Founder members of the Academy of Sanskrit Research. Melkote under Rule 7b" for the words appearing as "Members to the Managing Committee of the Academy of Sanskrit Research, Melkote under Rule 6. Hence, the petitioners have also challenged the said corrigendum also.

(2.) The Academy of Sanskrit Research-respondent No. 2 herein is a Society registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960. The object of the society is in encourage, promote and undertake research on Vedas. Agamas and Philosophy. The society is administered by a Managing Committee. It has its own Memorandum of Association and Rules & Regulations. Rule 4 deals with Membership. The membership is open to persons and organizations interested in the objectives of the academy subject to the approval of the Managing Committee and it provides for the following categories of membership:

(3.) The rules and regulations framed in Rule 4(i) (a) to (n) lists out the names of 14 persons/authorities as Founder Members. They have been nominated as such by issuing Government Orders during the period ranging from 1976 till 2008. This is clear from the particulars of the Government Orders under which each one of the nominated member is so nominated as shown immediately below the names of the Members under Rule 4(i) of the Rules. Petitioner in W. P. No. 2001 1-12/2011 - Dr. M. D. Sampath has been nominated in the place of the vacancy that had arisen on account of the resignation of Dr. N. S. Ananthrangachar as a Founder Member. The Managing Committee in its 152nd meeting held on 03.03.2007 had recommended for petitioner's nomination. As per the said recommendation and the proposal submitted to the Government, by a Government Order dated 23.05.2007, petitioner was nominated as a Founder Member. As already noticed above, his nomination has been withdrawn by the notification dated 23.02.2011.