VISVA BHARATI Vs. REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMMISSIONER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner, Visva Bharati, is a University incorporated by an Act of Parliament being the visva Bharati Act, 1951 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") and is situated at Santiniketan in the District of Birbhum in West Bengal. The university imparts education in the Humanities and Science streams and also gives practical training in various faculties, such as agriculture, carpentry, etc. For the purpose of imparting education in agriculture the University has an agricultural College which prepares students for the Degrees of B. Sc. and M. Sc. in Agriculture. For experimental pruposes and practical training of the students the University maintains an agricultural farm, the basic purpose of which is to carry on experimental research and impart practical training to the students of Agriculture. There is also experimental sowing of fodder and crops, such as paddy and wheat, and some so of the products of the said farm are sold to the employees of the University.

(2.) AS a part of its activities, the University also trains villagers in woodcraft and for this purpose it has a woodcraft wing constituted under the Institute of Rural Education known as "silpa Sadan". The basic purpose of this "silpa sadan" is to train villagers of the surrounding villages in woodcraft and carpentry. The products made by the trainees are used in the different departments of the University.

(3.) THE University being a residential one has to maintain a Hospital known as the Pearson memorial Hospital. No outsider is entitled to any benefit from this Hospital.