BABASAHEB MANIK GUNJAL Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD Shri Hon, the learned Counsel for the petitioners; Shri Phatke, the learned Assistant Government Pleader, for respondents Nos. 1 to 3 and 20; Shri Shinde, learned Counsel for respondent Nos. 4 and Shri Dixit, learned Counsel for respondents Nos. 5 to 19.

(2.) RESPONDENTS Nos. 5 to 10 - co-operative societies have been included in the voters list prepared by the Collector for the election of Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Ahmednagar. They are included in the category of Co-operative Societies doing business of processing or marketing of agricultural produce in the market area, as contemplated by section 13 (1) (c) of the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1963 (hereinafter referred to as "the said Act" ). The entitlement of respondents Nos. 5 to 19 in this category has been challenged before us in this writ petition.

(3.) ADMITTEDLY, all these societies are holding a traders licence which is issued by the Market Committee on 31-3-1998, a date which is a qualifying date for the purposes of voters list for the election in question.