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SHAJI P. CHALY,J.

This is a Public Interest Litigation filed by a resident of Purakkad Village, Alappuzha district, seeking to issue a writ of mandamus directing the State of Kerala, Government of India represented by the Secretary, Petroleum Ministry, Secretary to Government, Government of Kerala, Secretary to Civil Supplies, Director of Fisheries, Thiruvananthapuram and Matsyafed, Thiruvananthapuram, represented by its Managing Director, respondent Nos. 1 to 6 respectively, to conduct immediately a joint inspection for the issue of kerosene permit to the fishermen of the Kerala State; a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to give retrospective effect to the joint inspection with effect from 03.08.2018; to direct the respondents to undertake joint inspection every three months: and for a further writ of mandamus directing the Government of India, represented by Secretary, Petroleum Ministry, New Delhi, to submit an Action Taken Report on the request of the Kerala Government for kerosene since 2018 and to get rid of all impediments in Kerosene supply and allot the duty free kerosene to Fisheries sector.

2. Brief material facts for the disposal of the writ petition are as follows:

According to the petitioner, the fishermen are relying on kerosene supplied by State agencies at subsidized rates to run their country boats and presently many of them are not getting the subsidized kerosene as their kerosene permit is not renewed by the authorities in time by conducting a joint inspection of 3 Departments namely, Departments of Fisheries, Civil Supplies and Matsyafed.

15. However, on 17.11.2021, a meeting was conducted by the Fisheries & Ports Department in the presence of the Minister for Food & Civil Supplies Department and the Minister for Fisheries to discuss the matter of increasing the quota of kerosene to fisheries sector to lift the kerosene for fishermen from Oil companies directly by Matsyafed and also the joint verification for kerosene permit. That apart, it is submitted that to sort out the issue now projected by the petitioner, a committee was constituted with the Secretary, Fisheries Department (Convenor), Director, Fisheries Department, Director, Civil Supplies Department, MD Matsyafed and Additional Secretary, Food & Civil Supplies Department and representatives of oil companies as members.

5. The District supply Officers, District Officers of the Fisheries , District Officers of the Matsyafed shall jointly carry out the works coming under the district level as per the directions given by the District Collectors.

6. The Matsyafed shall take effective steps to see that sufficient number of application forms are printed and supplied for the purpose of joint inspection.

7. The Fishermen shall produce the documents such as Fishing Vessel, Out Board Engine, Pass Book issued by Fishermen Welfare Board, Registartion Certificate of the Vessel, / License/ T.R 5, Recept, FIMS Registration, Ration Card, if the engine is a new one, its Invoice, if the engine is an old one, the earlier permit before the particular centres . Registration Numbers shall be shown in the Vessels ( As per MS Act). The Inspection time will be from 8A.M to 5P.M.