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WP (C) No. 8348 / 2009, WP (C) 6731 / 2012 BHC

Observations in WP (C) No. 8348 / 2009 – date of judgment – 25.01.2010

We have come across several writ petitions in which similar relief is claimed not only in respect of inaction of the authority dealing with land acquisition proceedings, but even other departments, such as Cooperative Department, Caste Scrutiny Committee, Education Department, Social Welfare Department, Zilla Parishads and the like. We find that substantial number of writ petitions, such as the present petition, which are filed in this Court, are avoidable, if the officials of the State were to discharge their statutory obligation of deciding the representation within a reasonable time. In the present case, petitioner has submitted her application almost one year back i.e. 5th January, 2009.

It is unnecessary to underscore that the applicant would have legitimate expectation of early redressal of her grievance. Indubitably, expeditious decision on the representation or application is a right ingrained in Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Even when no period of limitation to dispose of representation / application is prescribed under statute, it has to be done expeditiously within a reasonable time (see Bharat Steel Tubes Ltd. V/s State of Haryana - [ (1988) 3 S.C.C., 478 ]. That is the duty cast upon the officials, for, existence of power to decide such application / representation is coupled with duty to decide the same expeditiously.

It will not be out of place to restate the legal position expounded by the Division Bench of this Court in a recent decision in the case of Vaishali Atmaram Suryawanshi V/s the State of Maharashtra in Writ Petition No.7055/2009 decided on 16th December, 2009. Notably, due to the inaction of the Authority (officials), not only the citizen has to suffer the agony of uncertainty and delayed justice, but at the same time the State exchequer is incurred on legal proceedings, which is wholly avoidable.

In our view, the Chief Secretary of the State of Maharashtra should issue appropriate instructions or circular to all the concerned officials of the respective departments, not only to one referred to above, but a general circular, instructing all the Departments that if the officials are required to dispose of any application or representation under the provisions of law, they shall do so within a reasonable time and in any case not later than the time specified in the said circular, failing which the concerned official will be held personally responsible and may be proceeded for appropriate Departmental action including for dereliction of duty. The Government Pleader assures to convey the sentiments of the Court to the Chief Secretary for taking appropriate action, as may be advised, and report compliance to the Court within four weeks from today.


Observations in WP (C) 6731 / 2012 – date of decision – 21.12.2012

Para 1: The grievance made in this Petition is that the Collector, Pune has failed to decide the representation made by the Petitioner on 28th June, 2011. We are appalled to notice the laxity and indifference of the Collector in not expediting the process of deciding the subject representation even after the service of present Writ Petition. Admittedly, no decision has been communicated to the Petitioner till date. Institution or pendency of this Petition was certainly not an impediment for taking the decision. As a matter of fact, any prudent officer would expedite the process as soon as he is served with the copy of the Petition making grievance against him about his inaction. The attitude of the officer in not deciding the representation, even after service of this Writ Petition, is to say the least deplorable.

Para 4: Copy of this order be forwarded to the Chief Secretary, with a hope that the Chief Secretary would cause to issue instructions/circular, before 19th January, 2013, to all concerned departments and officers that, if any representation is made, the same should be considered and final decision thereon must be taken within the period specified in the earlier Government Circular No. SKN – 02/2010/P. No. 29/A2 dated 16th February, 2010 and the decision so taken should be communicated to the party concerned within the same time.

Further, if any Petition is filed before the Court, making grievance about the inaction of the Authority, at least upon service of copy of such Petition, the concerned officer must dispose of the representation within four weeks from receipt of notice of such proceedings and communicate the decision to the concerned party as well as report that fact to the office of the Government Pleader for bringing it to the notice of the Court whenever the matter is taken up for hearing. It must be made amply clear that failure to comply with this condition may entail in initiating departmental action against the concerned officer and serious view may be taken in the matter.

Para 5: This we are required to observe because, on any given Court working day, the Court is called upon to deal with substantial number of Writ Petitions, in respect of the subject assigned to the concerned Division Bench, directing the Authorities to dispose of the representations within specified time. This litigation is certainly avoidable, if the representations were to be decided in a time bound manner by the Authority and including to communicate the decision so taken to the concerned parties soon thereafter.

Circular No. SKN-02/2010 //PK-29/A-2 dated 16.02.2010. Also GR dated 18.01.2013.



Sandeep Jalan

Advocate

Law Referencer: https://www.vakeelkanumber.com/

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