V RASQUINHA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition under Art.226, raises the question relating to the scopar of S.15 of the Karnataka Money Lenders Act 1961. The facts lie in a small compass and they are as follows: On 2nd Jan 1974, the Asst Registrar of Co-operative Societies who is also the Asst Registrar for Money Lenders, Puttur, made an order authorising S.A.Khader, Co-operative Extension Officer, Vistal, to enter the petitioner's premises, lor the purpose of searching some documents. His order reads as follows :

(2.) I, S.Seshappa Rai, MDC, Asst Registrar of CS and Asst Registrar for Money Lenders, Puttur, in exercise of the powers vested in me under Sec.15 of the Karnataka Money Landers Act 1961, do hereby authorise Sri S.A.Khader, Co-operative Extension Officer, Vittal, tot enter upcn any premises where he believes such records and documents to be and search for them and may ask any question necessary for interpreting or verifying such records. Given under my hand and seal on this 2nd day of Jan, 1974. Sd/. Asst Registrar of CS and Asst Registrar of Money Lenders, Puttur." While forwarding the search warrant to the Extension Officer, the Asst Registrar has further stated :

(3.) The authorised Officer, on receipt of the above order searched the premises of the petitioner and seized as many as 28 documents, which according to him were suspected and naeded for verification. He produced those documents before the Asst Registrar of Co-operative Societies.