[Civil Appeal No. 9017 of 2013 arising out of SLP (C) No.24290 of 2012]. [Civil Appeal Nos. 9020, 9029 & 9023 of 2013 arising out of SLP (C) No.24291 of 2012, 13796 and 13797 of 2013]. We are, in these appeals, concerned with the question whether a co-operative society registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act,1969 (for short "the Societies Act") will fall within the definition of "public authority" under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005(for short "the RTI Act") and be bound by the obligations to provide information sought for by a citizen under the RTI Act. A Full Bench of the Kerala High Court, in its judgment reported in AIR 2012 Ker 124, answered the question in the affirmative and upheld the Circular No.23 of 2006 dated 01.06.2006, issued by the Registrar of the Co-operative Societies, Kerala stating that all the co-operative institutions coming under the administrative control of the Registrar, are "public authorities" within the meaning of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act and obliged to provide information as sought for.
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