Key Points
Private-sector Karnataka bank is not 'State' as per the Constitution and it cannot be termed as an institution or company carrying on any statutory or public duty, the High Court of Karnataka has held..
Rejecting a writ petition against the bank, a single judge bench of Justice KV Aravind in a recent order said, "Though the respondent bank is engaged in public finance and regulated by Reserve Bank of India, it cannot be termed as an Institution or Company carrying on any statutory or public duty..
In the High Court, it was the specific contention of the bank that as no public duty or function is involved, the second respondent-bank not being a "State" under Article 12 of the Constitution of India, writ of mandamus cannot be issued to the respondent-Bank...
