Madras High Court
Kali Muthu vs The District Collector on 28 June, 2016
Author: M.Sathyanarayanan
Bench: M.Sathyanarayanan
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 28.06.2016 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.SATHYANARAYANAN W.P.No.22056/2016 Kali Muthu .. Petitioner Versus 1.The District Collector Villupuram District. 2.The District Supply Officer District Collector Office campus Villupuram. 3.The Special Tahsildar [Civil Supplies], Kallakurichi, Villupuram District. .. Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking for a writ of mandamus directing the 2nd respondent to process the petitioner's application dated 07.10.2011 and consequently issue a ration card to the petitioner within a time frame. For Petitioner : Mr.Victor Prasath For Respondents : Mr.R.Govindasamy, Spl.GP ORDER
By consent, the writ petition is taken up for final disposal.
2 The petitioner claims that he belongs to downtrodden family and applied for Family Card/Ration Card, enclosing necessary documents to the office of the 3rd respondent on 07.10.2011 and it was also received and acknowledged with a promise that new Family Card will be given within a period of 60 days from the date of filing of the application. The petitioner had repeatedly approached the office of the 3rd respondent and enquired about the status and also issued a Lawyer's notice dated 04.04.2015 to the 3rd respondent. The 3rd respondent, vide reply dated 12.05.2015, has informed the petitioner that it has been sent to the District Supply office, Villupuram and as and when, new Family Card is printed, it will be furnished to him. The grievance expressed by the petitioner is that despite lapse of four years, new Family Card/Ration Card is yet to be issued to him and therefore, he came forward to file this writ petition.
3 Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner ; Mr.R.Govindasamy, learned Special Government Pleader who accepts notice on behalf of the respondents.
4 It is unfortunate to note that though the application was submitted by the petitioner as early as on 07.10.2011 for issuance of new Family Card/Ration Card, he is yet to be issued with the same, even after the lapse of four years and though the Government in a Public Interest Litigation in WP.No.34201/2014 filed for implementation of Right to Services Act, took a stand that in order to provide for efficient time bound delivery and people friendly administration, Citizen Charter approach is being implemented in the State of Tamil Nadu ; but the same remains only in paper and it seems that the respondents, more particularly, the respondents 2 and 3 are in-sensitive to the need of the public. It is also pertinent to point out at this juncture that the Family Card / Ration Card, is virtually an identification card for receiving all benefits including the freebies provided by the Government and however, for the reasons best known, the respondents 2 and 3 did not chose to dispose of the said application for quite number of years.
5 In the light of the above facts and circumstances, the respondents 2 and 3 are directed to follow the communication of the 3rd respondent dated 12.05.2015 in Na.Ka.No.3645/2015 and take necessary steps to issue new Family Card/Ration Card to the petitioner in accordance with the relevant norms and regulations within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and communicate the decision taken, to the petitioner.
M.SATHYANARAYANAN, J., AP 6 The writ petition is disposed of with the above direction. No costs.
7 Post on 29.07.2016 for reporting compliance.
28.06.2016 NOTE:- Issue order copy on 01.07.2016.
AP To
1.The District Collector Villupuram District.
2.The District Supply Officer District Collector Office campus Villupuram.
3.The Special Tahsildar [Civil Supplies], Kallakurichi, Villupuram District.
Copy to:-
The Secretary to the Government, Food and Consumer Protection Department, Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai 600 009.W.P.No.22056/2016