Public purpose includes staff accommodation for a statutory transport undertaking when it directly supports efficient public functions.

Requisition of premises for use as living accommodation for an officer of a Road Transport Corporation was treated as a public purpose under the Bombay Land Requisition Act, 1948. The Court reasoned that the Corporation served a public interest, functioned under effective State control, and had statutory powers to provide suitable service conditions and acquire property necessary for its work. Housing an officer needed for its operations was directly connected with the efficient discharge of its public functions, and public purpose was not limited to land for use by the public at large. The requisition was therefore valid.

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Issues: Whether requisition of premises for use as living accommodation of an officer of a Road Transport Corporation was for a public purpose under section 5 of the Bombay Land Requisition Act, 1948.

Analysis: The Corporation was created to provide an efficient and economical road transport system in the public interest and was under the effective control of the State Government. Its statutory powers included providing suitable conditions of service for employees, including living accommodation, and acquiring or holding property necessary for its activities. The requisitioned premises could be treated as being made available for the Corporation itself, and housing an officer needed for the Corporation's work was directly connected with the efficient discharge of its public functions. The expression public purpose could not be confined to land made available to the public at large, and where the community's interest was directly and vitally concerned with the efficiency of the undertaking, the requisition satisfied that requirement.

Conclusion: The requisition was for a public purpose and was validly made.

Ratio Decidendi: Requisition of property to secure the efficient functioning of a statutory public utility undertaking, including provision of necessary staff accommodation, can constitute a public purpose when the community's interest is directly and vitally concerned.

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