A.S.Anand,C.J.I - (1.) -Which out of the two organizations, i.e., the Veterinary Council of India or the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, is empowered to hold an All India Common Entrance Examination to fill 15% seats in the Veterinary Colleges/faculties, is the only meaningful question which we are called upon to decide in these appeals by special leave
(2.) Undisputed facts for answering the above question are briefly set out hereunder: The Veterinary Council of India (hereinafter "VCI") has been established under Section 3 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 (hereinafter "VC Act") for regulation of veterinary practice and for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto under Section 22 of the Act. It is empowered to specify, by regulation, the minimum standards of veterinary education for grating recognised degrees/diplomas in veterinary science by various institutions affiliated to or as part of the State Agricultural Universities. The Act has been enacted by invoking Article 252 of the Constitution since the subject matter of the Act falls in the State List (Entry 15 of List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution) and the Concurrent List (Entry 25 of List III of the Seventh Schedule), the Parliament was authorised to pass the requisite legislation by the Legislatures of the States of Haryana, Bihar, Orissa, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan through resolutions passed by the Legislatures of these States. The Parliament, therefore, enacted the V.C. Act in 1984.
(3.) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (hereinafter "ICAR") is a Society, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, whose affairs are controlled by the Central Government in the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (hereinafter "DARE") in view of Schedule-II, Entry B, Part-III, Item 12 of the Government of India (Allocation of Business Ruels), 1961 framed under Article 77(3) of the Constitution of India. The main object of ICAR is: "(a) To undertake, aid, promote and co-ordinate agricultural and animal husbandry education, research and its application in practice development and marketing in India and its protectorates and any other areas in or in relation to which the Government of India has and exercises any jurisdiction by treaty, agreement, grant, usage sufferance or other lawful means by all means calculated to increase secure its adoption in every day practice." ;