Holding

A person’s "ordinary residence" is determined by the totality of facts, and the parents’ 30‑year residence in West Bengal makes the respondent eligible for a Scheduled Caste certificate and reservation.

Summary

Dudh Nath Prasad, an IAS officer, was appointed in 1968 to a reserved Scheduled Caste (SC) vacancy based on a caste certificate issued by the Sub‑Divisional Officer, Howrah, West Bengal. Although he was born, educated and held property in Bihar, his parents had been residing in Howrah for over 30 years before the 1966 UPSC examination. The Central Administrative Tribunal upheld the validity of his SC certificate, but the Union of India appealed. The Supreme Court examined the meaning of "ordinarily reside" under Paragraph 5 of the UPSC instructions and Section 20 of the Representation of People Act, 1950, and held that the long‑term residence of the parents in West Bengal made them "ordinarily residing" there, rendering the certificate valid. Consequently, the respondent was correctly treated as an SC candidate and the appeal was dismissed.

Issues considered

The meaning and scope of "ordinarily reside"/"ordinarily resident" under Paragraph 5 of the UPSC instructions and Section 20 of the Representation of People Act, 1950.
Whether the respondent’s parents’ long residence in West Bengal qualifies the respondent for a Scheduled Caste certificate despite his birth and education in Bihar.
Whether the caste certificate issued by the Sub‑Divisional Officer, Howrah, is valid for the purpose of reservation.

Legislation cited

All India Services Act, 1951s. Y
Constitution of Indias. Article 341(1), s. Article 366(24)

Subjects

Scheduled Caste reservationOrdinarily residentCaste certificateUPSC instructionsRepresentation of People ActDomicile vs residenceCivil service appointmentReservation law

Judgment

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. A
v.
DUDH NATH PRASAD.

JANUARY 4, 2000

[S. SAGHIR AHMAD AND S.P. KURDUKAR, JJ.] B

Se1Vice Law :

All India Se1Vices Act, 1951-Section Y-Rese1Vation of Schedule Caste
or Schedule Tribe-Appointment of candidate against rese1Ved vacancy-Re- C
quirement of para 5 of the instructions--lndian Administrative Se1Vices Ex-
amination 1996-Candidate to be ordinarily resident in the state which has
notified his caste as a schedule caste-Candidate for JAS examination born
and educated in Biha,......Parents of candidate residing in West Bengal for last
thirty years prior to examination-President in exercise of his powers under
Article 341(1) read with Art. 366(24) declared "Nuniya Caste" as a Schedule D
Caste-Held, the candidate belongs to "Nuniya Caste" of West Bengal and is
rightly appointed against rese1Ved vacancy-Constitution of India, 1950--Ar-
ticles 341(1) and 336(24)--Representation of People Act, 1950--Section 20.

Words and Phrases--'Reside', 'Residence' and 'Ordinarily E
Residing'-Meaning of.

Respondent is a member of the Indian Administrative and Allied
Services. He was appointed in 1968 against a reserved vacancy as he was
treated to belong to "Nuniya community" which was declared to be a
Scheduled Caste community in the State of West Bengal. The respondent F
was born and educated in State of Bihar. His parents however, were
residing in State of West Bengal for nearly 30 years prior to the IAS
examination.

The Comptroller & Auditor General challenged the Schedule Caste
Certificate of the respondent. Respondent contended before Central Ad- G
ministrative Tribu,nal that he belonged to "Nuniya caste" and the Caste
Certificate produced by him at the time of examination was duly checked
and verified by the Union Public Service Commission and had been
properly issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Howrah, as his parents had
been residing in that State for over 30 years prior to the date of examina- H
1
2 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000] 1 S.C.R.
A tion. The Judicial member agreed with the respondent but the Administra-
tive member gave a dissenting judgment. Aggrieved by the order, the
respondent filed a claim petition. The petition was allowed holding that
the respondent did belong to the "Nuniya" caste, which was only notified
as a Schedule Caste in the State of West Bengal. The ordinary place of
B residence of the parents of the respondent was Howrah from where the
Caste Certificate was produced by the respondent, whic~ was a proper and
valid certificate. Hence this appeal.

Dismissing the appeal, this Court

HELD : 1.1. Applying the requirements set out in Paragraph 5 of
c the "Instructions" in respect of Civil Service Examination, to the instant
case, it will be found that since the parents of the respondent were living
in District Howrah for more than 30 years before the Examination in
question was held, the District Officer or the Sub-Divisional Officer could
legally issue the Caste Certificate and also certify that his parents were
D "ordinarily residing" in District Howrah. In such a situation, the respon-
dent had no option but to obtain the Certificate from the Sub-Divisional
Officer, Howrah, as he could not have deviated from the "Instructions"
already issued by the UPSC. [8-D-E; F]

E 1.2. In determining whether a person was ordinarily residing in a
particular constituency, the factors mentioned in sub-section 20-(l)(lA)
alone would not be determinative of the status. It would have to be
.'
determined on a consideration of all other relevant factors. This is clear
from Section 2~(7) of the Act. [11-B-C]
F 1.3. The parents of the respondent lived at one time in a village in
District Siwan in the State of Bihar and that owned some property there.
They had shifted to the State of West Bengal long ago and had been living
there since then. Therefore, for all intents and purposes, they shall be
treated to be "ordinarily residing" in the State of West Bengal. For the State
G of West Bengal, the President, in exercise of his powers under Article
341(1) read with Article 366(24) had already declared ''Nuniya" Caste a
Scheduled Caste and, therefore, the respondent was rightly treated to be
a Scheduled Caste candidate and was rightly appointed against a reserved
vacancy, after being declared successful at the examination held by the
H UPSC for the Indian Administrative & Allied Services in 1966. [15-E-G]
U.O.l. v. DUDH NATH PRASAD 3

2.1. The word "reside" has been defined as "dwell permanently or for A
a considerable time; to have one's settled or usual abode; to live in or at a
particular place." The meaning, therefore, covers not only the place where
the person has a permanent residence but also the place where the person
has resided for a "considerable time". It also means to "live, dwell, abide,
sojourn, stay, remain, lodge; to settle oneself or a thing in a place, to be
stationed, to remain or stay, to dwell permanently or continuously, to have B
a settled abode for a time, to have one's residence or domicile; specifically,
to be residence to have an abiding place, to be present as an element, to
inhere as a quality, to be vested as a right. [11-E-G]

2.2. The word "residence" has been defined as "personal presence at
some place of abode with no present intention ·of definite and early removal
c
and with purpose to remain for undetermined period, not infrequently, but
not necessarily combined with design to stay permanently. [11-G-H]

2.3. It becomes clear that before a person, c.an be said to be "ordinari-
ly residing" at a particular place, he has to have an intention to stay at that D
place for a considerably long time. It would not include a flying visit or a
short or casual presence at that place. As the parents of the respondent
were admittedly residing in District Howrah for more than 30 years, they
would be treated to be "ordinarily residing" in that District and the mere
fact that they held some property in a village in District Siwan in the State
of Bihar would not affect their status. [12-B-C; 8-E] E
Jagir Kaur&Anr. v.Jaswant Singh, [1964] 2 SCR 73, referred to.

Oxford Dictionary; Black's Law Dictionary, Vth edition, referred to.

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 1387 of p
1991.

From the Judgment and Order dated 15.12.87 of the Central Ad-
ministrative Tribunal, Patna in O.A. No. 444 of 1986.

P.P. Malhotra, Ms. Nandini Gore and. P. Parmeswaran for the Ap- G
pellants.

Ms. Ambika Pratap Singh, S.P. Sinha, Madhu Saran and A Sharan
for the Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by H
4 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2000] 1 S.C.R.
<
A S. SAGHIR AHMAD, J. Respondent is a member of the Indian
Administrative and Allied Services. He was appointed in 1968 against a
reserved vacancy as he was treated to belong to "Nuniya" community which
was declared to be a Scheduled Caste community in the State of West
Bengal and not in the State of Bihar where the respondent was born and
B had his schooling throughout even upto Graduate level. It was for this
reason that the Comptroller and Auditor General wrote to the respondent
that he cannot be treated as a member of the Scheduled Caste community.
This letter was received by the respondent while he was working as Deputy
Accountant General and had been selected for Post Graduate Diploma
Course in Financial Studies in the United Kingdom under Colombo Plan.
C While he had made all preparations and even purchased the air-ticket to
proceed to the United Kingdom, he received the above letter which scut-
tled his programme.

Respmi.dent, at that stage, approached the Central Administrative
D Tribunal where he contended that he belonged to "Nuniya" caste and the
Caste Certificate produced by him at the time of his examination, which
was only checked and verified by the Union Public Service Commission
('UPSC', for short), had been properly issued by the Sub-Divisional Of-
ficer, Howrah, as his parents has been residing in that State for. over 30
years prior to the date on which the examination was held by the Union
E Public Service Commission. His contention was accepted by the Judicial
Member of the Tribunal, but the Administrative Member did not agree
and gave a dissenting judgment. Consequently, the matter was referred to
the Chairman who, by his judgment and order dated 15.2.1987, which is
impugned in this appeal, agreed with the judicial Member and found that
F the respondent did belong to the "Nuniya" caste, which was duly notified
as a Scheduled Caste in the State of West Bengal. It was further found that
the ordinary place of residence of the parents of the respondent was
Howrah from where the Caste Certificate was produced by the respondent,
which was a proper and valid certificate. The Claim Petition was allowed
with these findings and it is against this judgment that the Union of India
G has come in appeal before us ..

Shri P.P. Malhotra, learned Senior Counsel for the Union of India
has contended that in allowing the Claim Petition the Tribunal committed
a manifest error in not considering the true impact of the vital fact that the
H respondent was born in a village in Siwan District in the State of Bihar
U.O.I. v. DUDH NATH PRASAD [S. SAGHIRAHMAD, J.] 5

where he also received his early education. He also graduated from a A
University in Bihar and, therefore, for all intents and purposes, he was to
be treated as a member of "Nuniya" community of Bihar, which, for that
State, had not been declared to be a Scheduled Caste.

Learned counsel for the respondent, on the contrary, submitted that
'I in view of the admitted position that the parents of the respondent were B
residing in District Howrah for over 30 years prior to the date on which
the examination was held by UPSC, their place of ordinary residence was
District Howrah and, th~refore, the Caste Certificate issued by the Sub-
Divisional Officer, Howrah, was proper and valid and on that basis he was
rightly allowed to appear in the Examination and on being selected, was c
properly appointed to the Service.

The facts which have been found established ·by the Tribunal are :

(a) The respondent and his parents, ADMITTEDLY, belong to
the "Nuniya" Caste. which has been declared as a "Scheduled D
Casle" in lhe State of West Bengal but not ~o in Bihar.

(b) The parents of the respondent were living in District Howrah
in West Bengal continuously for more than 30 years before
the respondent joined the India Administrative and Allied E
Services.

(c) The parents of the respondent, before coming to West Ben-
gal, were living in Village Chati.chopali in Siwan District in
the State of Bihar where they also owned some property.
F
(d) (i) The respondent was born in that village on 3.2.1940.

(ii) Respondent had his schooling in Bihar and also
•• Graduated from a College in Bihar.

(iii) Respondent joined service in Customs House, Calcutta. G
(iv) While working in the Customs House, respondent ap-
, plied for "Scheduled Caste" certificate which was issued
to him by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar, Howrah,
on 16.7.1965. H

'
6 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2000] 1 S.C.R.

A (v) Respondent applied to the Union Public Service Com-
mission as a candidate for the IAS Examination. He
claimed that he belonged to "Nuniya" Caste which was
-
a Scheduled Caste community declared as such in the
State of West Bengal. He also indicated that his parents
were ordinarily residing in District Howrah, West Ben-
B gal.

(vi) Union Public Service Commission made necessary in-
quiries and by its letter dated 6.2.1967 accepted the
respondent as a candidate belonging to "Nuniya" Caste
c which was a Scheduled Caste in the Howrah District of
West Bengal, and thus confirmed the respondent's can-
didature for the Indian Administrative Service etc. Ex-
amination, 1966.

(vii) Respondent qualified at the Examination and the Govt.
D after verification of his character and antecedents, ap-
pointed him to the Indian Administrative & Allied
Services against a Reserved vacancy as a Scheduled
Caste candidate in the year 1968.

E On the basis of the above facts, it is contended by learned counsel
for the appellants that since the parents of the respondent originally
belonged to the State of Bihar where they also possessed property and
where the respondent was born and brought up and also educated, he
could not .be treated to be a resident of West Bengal nor could his parents
be treated to be ordinarily residing in West Bengal and, therefore, the
F benefit of reservation in favour of "Nuniya" community, which was a
Scheduled Caste community in the state of West Bengal alone, would not
be available to the respondent. Let us examine the merits of this conten-
tion.
..
Para 5 of the "Instructions to the Candidates" contained in the
G
pamphlet issued for the Indian Administrative Service etc. Examination,
1966, published under. the authority of the Govt. of India, recites as
under:

"5. A candidate who claims to belong to one of the Scheduled
H Castes or Scheduled Tribes should submit in support of his claim
U.O.I. v. DUDH NATI! PRASAD [S. SAGHIR AHMAD, J.j 7

a certificate, in original, in the form given below from the DIS- A
TRICT OFFICER OR THE SUB-DIVISIONAL OFFICER OR
ANY OTHER OFFICER OF THE DISTRICT IN WHICH HIS
PARENTS (OR SURVIVING PARENT) ORDINARILY
RESIDE, who has been designated by the State Government
concerned as competent to issue such certificate, if both his parents
arc dead, OF THE DISTRICT IN WHICH HE HIMSELF OR-
B
DINARILY RESIDES OTHERWISE THAN FOR THE PUR-
POSE OF HIS OWN EDUCATION.

A candidate, from the Delhi State may submit such a certificate
also from the Additional District Magistrate of the First Class C
Stipendiary magistrate or the Revenue Assistant."

The proforma of the Form on which the Schedule Caste Certifi-
cate is to be issued is set out in Para 5 referred to above. It is
reproduced below :
D
"The form of the certificate to be produced by Scheduled Caste ·
and Scheduled Tribe candidates applying for appointment to posts
under the Government of India.

This is tu certify that.. ..... son of........ ,. .. of village-Dis-
tricUDivision ... ,. .... .in the State ............ belongs to the community E
which is recognised as a Scheduled Castes/Tribes under the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Lists (Modification)
Order, 1956, read with Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Orders (Amendment) Act, 1956, the Constitution (Jammu & Kash-
mir) Schedule Castes Order, 1956 and the Constitution (Andaman F
and Nicobar Islands) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1959. Shri ............. .
and/or his family ordinarily reside(s) in the ............. dis-
trict/Division of the .............. State/Union Territory.

Signature ............ .
G
Dated : Designation with seal of Office

Seal State/Union Territory.

NOTE : THE TERM 'ORDINARILY RESIDE' USED HERE
WILL HA VE THE SAME MEANING AS IN SEC- H
8 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2C00] 1 S.C.R.

A TION 20 OF THE REPRESENTATION OF
PEOPLE ACT, 1950"

According to Para 5 of the ;'Instructions", the Scheduled Caste
Certificate has tu be issued by the District Otficer or the Sub- Divisional
Officer etc. of tht: District in which the parents of the candidate "ordinarily
B reside". If the candidate himself is residing, for the purpose of his educa-
tion, elsewhen.:, he is still required tu produce the certificate of the District
Officer etc. of the District in which his parents were "ordinarily residing".
\
If, however, both the parents were dead, the candidak could submit the
certificate of the District Officer etc. nf the Distr:ct in which the candidate '~
C himself was "ordinarily residing" otherwise than for the purpose of educa-
tion.

Applying the requirements sd out in Paragraph 5 of the "Instruc-
tions" to the facts of this case, it will be found that since the parents of thi.:
D respondent were, admittedly, living in District Howrah for more than 30
years before the Examination in question was held, the District Officer or,
for that matter, the Sub-Divisional Offici.:r in the instant case, could legally
issue the Cask Certificate and also certify that his parents wen: "ordinarily
residing" in District Howrah. The mere fact that the respondent, for
E purposes of education, stayed in the Stalt: of Bihar and graduated from a
college in that State, would not affect !ht: status of his parents who weri.:
already living in District Howrah for more than 30 years and consequently
could be treated as "ordinarily n::siding" in District Howrah. Their status
would not be affected by the temporary residence of the respondent, for
the purpose of his education, in the Stab: of Bihar. In such a situation, the
F respondent had no option but to obtain the Certificate from the Sub-
Divisional Offici::r, Howrah, as he could not have deviated from the "In-
structions" already issued by the UPSC.

The Tribunal has found it as a fact that the parents uf the ri::spondent •
G had settled down in District Howrah and were living there for about 30
years. They were, therefore, for all intents and purposes, "ordinarily n:sid-
ing" at Howrah. The Examination in which the respondent had appeared
was the 1966-Examinatiun for recruitment tu Indian Administrative and
Allied Services which was held 30 years aftt:r the parents of tht: respondent
H had settlt:d down in Howrah District.
U.U.1. v. DL'DH ~ATl-1 PRASAD [S. SAGHlRAHMAD,J.] 9

Learned counsel for the appellant has contended that in view of the A
"NOTE" appended to Paragraph 5 of the "Instructions\ the term ''ordinarily
reside" has to be given the same meaning as in Section 20 of the Repre-
sentation of People Act, 1950, and if that meaning is taken into considera-
tion, the respondent cannot be said to bdong to the State of West Bengal
and consequently he could not take advantage of the :"lotification by which
"Nuniya'' community was declared as a Scht:duled Caste community in that
B
State. Section 20 of the Representation of People Act, 1950, provides as
under:

''20. Meaning of 'ordinarily resident' :

(1) A person shall not be deemed to be ordinarily resident in a
c
constituency on the ground only that he owns, or is in possession
of a dwelling house therein.

(lA) A person absenting himself temporarily from his place of
ordinary residence shall not, by reason thereof, cease to be or- D
dinarily resident therein.

( lB) A mt:mber of Parliament or the lt:gislature of a State shall
not during the term of his office cease to be ordinarily resident in
the constituency in the electoral roll of which he is registered as
an a elector at the timt: of his t:kction as such member, by reason E
of his absence from that constituency in connt:ction with his dutit:s
as such mt:mber.

(2) A person who is a patient in any t:stablishment maintained
wholly or mainly for the reception and treatment of persons suf-
fering from mental illness or mental dt:fectivt:nt:ss, or who is F
detained in prison or other legal custody at any place, shall not by
reason thereof be deemed to bt: ordinarily rt:sidt:nt thert:in.

I (3) Any person having a st:rvice qualification shall be deemed to
be ordinarily resident on any date in the constituency in which, but G
for his having such service qualification, he would have been
ordinarily resident on that date.

(4) Any person holding any office in India declared by the Presi·
dent in consultation with the Election Commission to be an office
to which the provisions of this sub-section apply, shall be deemed H
10 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000j l S.C.R.

A to be ordinarily resident on any date in the constituency in which,
but for the holding of any such office, he would have been ordinari-
ly resident on that date.

(5) The statement of any such person as is referred to in sub-sec-
tion (3) or sub-section (4) made in the prescribed form and verified
B in the prescribed manner, that but for his having the service
qualification or but for his holding any such office as is referred
to in sub-section (4) he would have been ordinarily resident in a
specified place on any date, shall in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, be accepted as correct.
c (6) The wife of any such person as is referred to in sub-section (3)
or sub-section (4) shall, if she be ordinarily residing with such
person be deemed to be ordinarily resident in the constituency
specified by such person under sub-section (5).

D (7) If in any case a question arises as to whether a person is
ordinarily resident at any relevant time, the question shall be
determined with reference to all the facts of the case and to such
rules as may be made in this behalf by the Central Government in
consultation with the Election Commissioner.

E (8) In sub-section (3) and (5) "service qualification" means -

(a) being a member of the armed forces of the Union; or

(b) being a member of a force to which the provisions of the
Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950) have made applicable whether
F with or without modifications; or

(c) being a member of an armed police force of a State, who is
servicing outside that State; or

(d) being a person who is employed under the Government of
G
India in a post outside fadia:

Section 20 which is part of the law enacted for purposes of election
to Parliament or State Legislature contemplates many categories of persons
including those who are in service. It lays down as to whc::n they would be
H treated to be "ordinarily residing" in a particular constituency. Sub-section
U.O.l. v. DUDH NATH PRASAD [S. SAGHlR AHMAD, J.] 11

(1) and Sub-section (lA) of Section 20 are couched in a negative language. A
Sub- section (1) of Section 20 provides that if a person holds or is in
possession of a dwelling house in a particular constituency, he would not,
merely on that ground, be deemed to be "ordinarily resident" in that
constituency. Sub-section (lA) provides that temporary absence of a
person from the place of his ''ordinary residence", would be ineffective and
a person. would not cease to be an "ordinary resident" in that constituency
B
merely for that reason. Thus, in determining the question whether a person
was ordinarily residing in a particular constituency, the factors mentioned
in sub-section (1) and Sub-ses.:tion (lA) of Section 20 alone would not be
determinative of the status and the question would have to be determined
on a consideration of all other rdevant factors. This is also clear from a c
reading of sub- section (7) of Section 20 which lays down that if a question
arises as to wh<:ther a person was ordinarily residing in any constituency at
the rdevant time, it would be determim:d with reference to all the facts
of the case as also with reference to the Rules that may have been made
in that behalf. by the Central Govt. in consultation with the Election D
Commissioner.

The word "reside" has been defined in the Oxford Dictionary as
"dwell permanent:y or for a considerable time; to have one's settled or
usual abode; to live in or at a particular place." The meaning, therefore,
covers not only the place where the person has a permanent n:sidence but E
also the place where the person has resided for a "considerab!t: time.

In Black's Law Dictionary, 5th Edition, the word "reside" has been
given the following meaning :

"Live, dwell, abide, sojourn, stay, remain, lodge; to settle oneself F
or a thing in a place; to be stationed, to remain or stay, to dwell
permanently or continuously, to have a settled above for a time,
tu havt: one's residt:nce or domicile; specifically, to be in residence,
to havt: an abiding place, to be prest:nt as an elt:ment, to inhere
as a quality, to be vested as a right." G
In the same Dictionary, the word "residt:nce" has been defined as under :

''Personal presence at some place of abode with no present inten-
tion of definite and early removal and with purpose to n:main for
undetermined period, not infrequently, but not ne~essarily com- H
12 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2000] 1 S.C.R.

A bined with design to stay permam:ntly. Bodily presence and the
intention of remaining in a place, to sit down to stay in a place, to
settle, to remain, and is made up of fact and intention, the fact of
abode and the intention of remaining, and is a combination of acts
and intt:ntion. Residence implies something more than mere physi-
cal presence and something less than domicile.;' .
B
If the two meanings referred to above are to be read along with the
word "ordinarily', it becomes clear that a person, before he can be said to
be "ordinarily residing" at a particular place, has to have an intention to
stay at that place fur a considerably long time. It would not include a flying
C visit or a short or casual presence at that place.

The word ;'ri::side" came to be considered by this Court in Jagir Kaur
& Anr. v. Jaswant Singh, (1964) 2 SCR 73, in the context of the jurisdiction
of the Magistratt: under Section 488 of the Code of Criminal Procedun::,
1898, for entertaining the pt:tition of a wife for maintenance. After con-
D sidering the meaning of the word "reside'' in the Oxford Dictionary, which
we have already set up above, the Court observed as under :

"He said meaning, therefore, takes in both a permanent dwelling
as well as a temporary living in a place. It is, therefore, capable of
E different mi::anings, including domicile in the strictest and the most
technical si::nse and a temporary residence. Whichever meaning is
given to it, one thing is obvious and it is that it does not include a
casual stay in, or a flying visit to, a particular place. In short, the
meaning of the word would, in the ultimate analysis, depend upon
F the context and the purpose of a particular statute. In this case the
context and purpose of the pres..:nt statute certainly do not compel
the importation of the concept of domicile in its technical sense."

(Emphasis supplied)

G Considering the facts of this case in the light of the statutory
provisions contained in Section 20 of the Representation of People Act,
1950 as also the provisions contained in paragraph 5 of the ''Instructions",
since the parents of the respondent were, admittedly, residing in District
Howrah for more than 30 years, they would bi;: treated to be "ordinarily
H residing'' in that District and the mere fact that they held some property in
/~
;
/
U.O.L v. UUOHNA1H PRASAD :s. SAGHIRAHMAD,J I 13

a village in District Siwan in the State of Bihar would not affect their status. A

Learned counsel for the appellants then attempted to import the
concept of 'domicile' as understood in Private International law, in his
arguments and contended that before a person can be said to be "Ordinari-
ly residing" at a particular place, he must satisfy all the requirements which
go to constitute 'domicile'. He further contended that since the respondent B
was born in a village in the State of Bihar, he shall be treated to have his
domicile of nativity in that State. We are not prepared to accept this
contention.

In Tomlin's Law Dictionary, "domicile" has been defined as "the
_/ place where a man has his home.''
c
In Whicker v. Hume, 28 L.J. Ch. 396, it was held that a person's
domicile means, generally speaking, the place when: he has his permanent
home.
D
In Mc Mullen v. Wadsworth, 14 A.C. 631, it was observed that 'the .
Roman law still holds goods that 'it is not by naked assertion but by deeds
and acts that a domicil is established'.''

Lord Macnaghten in Winans v. A.G., (1904) A.C. 290, observed that
''Domicil of origin, or, as it is sometimes calkd, pt:rhaps less accuratdy, E
domicil of birth, differs from domicil of choict: mainly in this - that its
character is mort: enduring, its hold stronger and less easily shaken off.''

ln Ro.~s v. Ross, (1930) A.C. 1, Lord Buckmaster while dealing with
a case relating to change of domicile observed that "Declarations of inten-
tion art: rightly regarded as determming the question of a change of F
domicil, but they must be examined by considering the person to whom,
.the purposes for which, and the circumstances in which they are made, and
they must further be fortified and carried into effect by conduct and action
consistent with the declared expression".
G
In another case, namely, Rams·ay v. Liverpool Royal lnfinnary, (1'130)
A.C. 538. Lord Dunedin observed at page 594 that. "The animus of chang-
ing domicil may bt: inferred from the factum of residence."

Etymologically, "n:sidence" and "domicile•• carry tht: same meanmg,
inasmuch as both refer to tht: 'permanent home', but under Private lntt:r- H
14 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000) I S.C.R.
A national Law, "domicile" carries a little difforent sense and exhibits many
facets. In spite af having a permanent home, a person may have a commer-
cial, a political or forensic domicile. 'Domicile' may also take many colours;
it may be the domicile of origin, domicile of choice, domicile by operation
of law or domicile of dependence. In Private International Law, "'domicile"
B jurisprudentially has a different concept altogether. It plays an important
role in the Conflict of Laws. The subject has been elaboratdy considered
by Dicey in his book "Conflict of Laws" (6th Edition) as also in another
book by Phillimore on Domicil. Equally valuable discussion is to be found
in Private International jurisprudence by Foote and by Westlake on Private
International Law. ..

c I
'\.
To bring home the point we may quota a few words from the "New
jurisprudence (The grammar of Modern Law) by Justice P.B. Mukharji
(Tagore Law Lectures), as undt:r :

Certain principles rdating to domicile havi:: taken firm root in
D
common Law countries. The principles may be stated in the form
of propositions in the light of the famous case of Udny v. Udny,
(1869) L.R. 1 SC. App. 441. Ev1,,ry pt:rson must all the time be said
to possess a domicile. There can be one domicile at a time and no
person can have plural domicile. Secondly, the basic question
E whether certain facts do or do not constitute domicile is ordinarily
decided by the municipal law of the court of the country deciding.
Naturally, lex fori plays a significant part in this question of Renvoi
where domicile is the connecting factor. Casdagli v. Casdagli,
(1919) AC 145. But the difficult point of private international
jurisprudence is that the whole problem of the choice of law has
F
remained excluded as yet in determining the question what law
ought to govern a person's capacity to acquire a domicile. (In Re
: Wallach,, (1950) I All ER 199. Appart:ntly this gap in private
international jurisprudence is waiting long to be filled up. It is just
possible that a single choice of law may not govern all types of
G cases in this field.

The classical division of domicile is well known. There are the
domicile of origin, the domicile of choice and the domicile of
dependence. There has been little change in the essential concept
H of these three domiciles.
U.O.I. v. DVDH NATH PRASAD :s. SAGHlR AHMAD, J.] 15

Domicile and residence arc different and yet related concepts. A
Ordinarily domicile operates as the basis of jurisdiction, in such
vital aspect of a person's private life like marriage, legitimacy and
succession. But on the other hand residence operates as the basis
of jurisdiction in cases like taxation, right to vote, in certain aspects
of matrimonial question, and generally in cases where public rights
B
are involved.

In view of the above, the concept of "domicile" as canvassed by
learned counsel for the appellants with reference to change of nationality
or change of domicile from one country to another, cannot be imported in
the present case. Moreover, "Domicile" and "Residence' are relative con- C
cepts and have to be understood in the ~ontext in which they are used,
having regard to the nature and purpose of the statute in which these words
are used. We are principally concerned with the expression "ordinarily
reside" as used in the Noh: to Paragraph 5 of the "Instructions" and the
expression "ordinarily resident" used in Section 20 of the Representation
of People Act, 1950. This Act and the Representation of People Act, 1951 D
both deal with the election matters including delimitation of constituencies,
right to contest the election as also right to vote in a constituency.

We have already explaim:d the meanings of the words ''ordinarily
resident" and have found that notwithstanding that the parents of the E
respondent lived at one time in a village in District Siwan in the State of
Bihar and that they owned some property also then:, they had shifted to
the State of West Bengal long ago and had been living there since then.
For all intents and purposes, therefore, they shall be treated to be 'or-
dinarily residing in the State of West Bengal. For the State of West Bengal,
the President, in exercise of his powers under Article 341(1) read with F
Article 366(24) had already declared "Nuniya" Caste as a Scheduled Caste
and, therefore, the respondent was rightly treated to be a Scheduled Caste
candidate and W(!S rightly appointed against a Reserwd vacancy, after
being declared successful at the examination held by the VPSC for the
Indian Administrative & Allied Services in 1966. G

We do not find any infirmity in the judgment passed by the Tribunal
which is hereby uphdd. The appeal having no merit, is dismissed, but
without any order as to costs.

NJ. Appeal dismissed. H