(1.) THIS ORDER shall also goven disposal of M.P. No. 1454/93 (Purushottam (deceased) through Lrs V. Union of India and ors.) M.P. No. 1928/93 (Ashok Kumar V. M.P. Stock Exchange and ors.), and M.P. No. 1410/95 (Rajendra Rathore and another V M.P. Stock Exchange and Ors.), as common questions of law and fact are involved in all these petitions.
(2.) IN all the aforesaid petitions, the Respondent M.P. Stock Exchange (hereinafter shall be referred to as the 'Stock Exchange') has raised preliminary objections with regard to maintainability of the petition, on the ground, that M.P. Stock Exchange is not a 'State' within the meaning of Art. 12 of the Constitution and consequently it would not be amenable to writ jurisdiction Invoking Art. 226 of the Constitution. Since the question has been posed in the aforesaid petitions and in other petitions which have not been listed, it was thought fit and counsel appearing for both sides, prayed that the question with regard to maintainability of the petition, in the light of the aforesaid objection, be decided first so that the petitioners are able to know their fate.
(3.) ACCORDINGLY , it was thought fit to decide the said question as preliminary issue. The Court has, accordingly, framed the following question which requires consideration;