Kerala High Court
K.M.George vs State Of Kerala on 7 September, 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN
TUESDAY, THE 7TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021 / 16TH BHADRA, 1943
WP(C) NO. 3241 OF 2021
PETITIONER:
K.M.GEORGE
AGED 65 YEARS
S/O.MATHEW, CHEMBARATHIKKAL HOUSE, MUTHALAKKODAM P.O.,
THODUPUZHA VILLAGE, THODUPUZHA-685 605.
BY ADVS.
P.B.KRISHNAN
SRI.P.B.SUBRAMANYAN
SRI.SABU GEORGE
SRI.MANU VYASAN PETER
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT
AND FARMER'S WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001.
2 THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE,
DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND FARMER'S
WELFARE DEPARTMENT, VIKAS BHAVAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-
695 033.
3 THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE,
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE,
THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI-685 584.
4 THE PRICIPAL AGRICULTURAL OFFICER,
OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL OFFICER,
THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI-685 584.
5 AGRICULTURE OFFICER,
MUNICIAPL KRISHI BHAVAN, THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI-685 608.
BY ADV. SMT.RASHMI K.M, GOVERNMENT PLEADER
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
07.09.2021, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
2
P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J
--------------------------------------
W.P.(C)No.3241 of 2021
--------------------------------------
Dated this the 07th day of September 2021
JUDGMENT
The petitioner a paddy farmer by profession and
a member of Muthalakkodam Padasekhara Samithi
submitted a project proposal for establishing a
'Fully Automatic Rubberised Huller Unit' (Rice mill)
having a project cost of Rs.12,20,000/-(Rupees
twelve lakhs twenty thousand only) claiming
assistance from the 'Project based assistance for
convergence at block level and mini rice mills for
local processing, including special varieties of
rice and support for packing and certification"
under the Comprehensive Rice Development Scheme,
2017-18. The state Level Sanctioning Committee
approved the project and the respondent No.2 issued
Ext.P2 order sanctioning the financial assistance of
Rs.10 lakhs subject to the condition that the
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
petitioner and the Muthalakkodam Padasekhara Samithi
should enter into an agreement on the
recommendations and economic aspects of the unit.
The petitioner executed Ext.P3 agreement with the
Muthalakkodam Padasekhara samithi and submitted the
same before the 4th respondent. Respondent No.2
issued Ext.P4 order granting permission to transfer
the amount to the bank account of the petitioner
subject to the condition that the Mill would be used
for the benefit of the entire padasekharam as
specified in Ext.P3 agreement. The petitioner
remitted Rs.1,50,000/-(Rupees One lakh fifty
thousand only) to the Millimore Engineering Private
Ltd., Chennai as advance for purchasing the huller
machine. However, it is the case of the petitioner
that the respondent No.4 insisted that the
petitioner has to establish the unit first by
availing a loan from the bank and thereafter the
amount would be transferred to that loan account.
The grievance of the petitioner is that there is no
such condition in Ext.P1, P2 and P4. The petitioner
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
informed the respondent No.4 that he is not availing
any loan and he is having the balance amount with
him to meet the cost for the establishment of the
unit. It is the case of the petitioner that he
requested that the amount need not be paid to his
account rather the same may be directly transferred
to the account of the Millimore Engineering Private
Ltd., Chennai. Even then, the petitioner submitted
that the respondent No.4 refused to disburse the
money. The amount sanctioned was returned to the
Government. In such circumstances, the petitioner
approached the State Human Rights Commission. As
per Ext.P5 order, the Human Rights Commission also
directed to disburse the amount within two months
from the date of the order. Ext.P5 order is dated
17.03.2020. Even then, the amount is not disbursed.
Subsequently, the petitioner was served with Ext.P10
note issued by the 2nd respondent, sanctioning Rupees
10 lakhs to the petitioner for establishing the
rice mill. But, in Ext.P10 note, there is a
stipulation that the amount is to be drawn and
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
transferred to suspense account of the bank from
which the beneficiary is availing the loan and
released to the loan account of the beneficiary
after successful completion of the project. Such
stipulation in Ext.P10 is challenged in this writ
petition. The writ petition is filed with following
prayers:
"1. Call for the records relating to Ext-
P10 and quash the same to the extent it
stipulates that the amount is to be drawn and
transferred to the suspense account of the bank
from which the beneficiary would be availing
loan and would be released to the loan account
of the beneficiary after successful completion
of the project, by issuing a Writ of Certiorari;
2. Call for the records relating to Ext-
P11 and quash the same by issuing a Writ of
Certiorari;
3. Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other
appropriate Writ or order directing Respondent
No.4 to pay the amount of Rs.10,00,000/-(Rupees
Ten lakhs only) sanctioned as per Ext-P10 to the
bank account of the Petitioner or of the
Millimore Engineering Private Ltd., 1-F, P.T.R
Apartments, 153-Habibullah Road, T.Nagar,
Chennai-600 017 towards the cost of "Fully
Automatic Rubberised Huller Unit" proposed to be
sold to the Petitioner as per Ext.P12 invoice;
4. Issue any other Writ, order or
direction which this Hon'ble Court deems fit and
necessary to grant in the circumstances of the
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
case.
5. Grant to the Petitioner the cost of
this Writ Petition."
2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner
and the learned Government Pleader.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner
reiterated his contentions in the writ petition.
The learned counsel for the petitioner takes me
through Ext.P2 order in which it is clearly stated
that the project proposal for establishing the unit
by Sri.K.M.George who is authorised by the
Muthalakkodam Padasekhara Samithi of Thodupuzha
Krishi Bhavan with a total financial assistance of
Rs.10,00,000/-(Rupees Ten lakhs only) is sanctioned
and certain conditions were also there. The learned
counsel takes me through Ext.P3. The learned counsel
also takes me through Ext.P4 proceedings of the
Director of Agriculture. In that proceedings also,
it is stated that the Principal Agricultural
Officer, Idukki is permitted to transfer the amount
of Rupees 10 lakhs to the bank account of the Sri.
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
K.M.George with a condition that it has to be
specified that the mill will be used for the benefit
of the entire padasekharam as specified in the
agreement. Thereafter, the counsel takes me through
the order passed by the State Human Rights
Commission. The learned counsel submitted that the
Human Rights Commission after considering the
contentions of the respondents, rejected the same
and directed the authorities to transfer the amount
within two months. Even then, the amount is not
transferred. This is the sum and substance of the
arguments of the petitioner.
4. The learned Government Pleader submitted
that even though Ext.P5 order is passed by the State
Human Rights Commission on 17.03.2020, subsequently
the petitioner agreed that he will avail a loan and
thereafter Ext.R4(h) letter is issued. The learned
Government Pleader takes me through Clause No.6 of
Ext.R4(h) in which it is stated that he will
approach the bank for getting the amount. That is
why the authorities has not challenged Ext.P5 order,
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
is the main contention raised by the learned
Government Pleader. The learned Government Pleader
also takes me through the counter filed in this
case, particularly paragraph No.9 and 14. In
Paragraph No.14, it is stated that the scheme
implemented by the Agricultural Department including
purchase of equipments and establishment of
machinery under various schemes and also for the
Local Self Government Schemes, the existing
procedure of transfer of subsidy is done after
implementation/purchase/establishment of the unit,
its field level verification certification by the
concerned officers that the beneficiary has
implemented purchased and installed the machinery
and is functioning satisfactorily. In that
paragraph it is stated that , under no scheme, the
subsidy is released in advance to the beneficiary.
Therefore, the amount is not disbursed. The learned
Government Pleader submitted that the Government has
no grievance against the petitioner. The Government
is only trying to disburse the amount in accordance
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
to law.
5. After hearing both sides, according to me,
the stand of the respondents can not be accepted. I
perused Ext.P5 order of the State Human Rights
Commission. The point which is now raised in the
counter is considered by the Human Rights
Commission. It will be better to extract the
relevant portion of Ext.P5 order. The relevant
portion of Ext.P5 order is extracted hereunder:
"സബ്സസിഡസിയയായസിടയാണണ് 10 ലകക്ഷം രൂപ അനുവദസിക്കുന്നതതെനന്നയാ അതല്ലെങസില് തനെല്ലുകുതണ്
മസില്ലുക്ഷം അനുബന്ധ ഉപകരണങ്ങളക്ഷം വയാങ്ങസി സയാപസിചണ് പ്രവര്തനെകമമയാകസിയ നശേഷതമ
ഈ സഹയായക്ഷം പരയാതെസികയാരനെണ് നെല്കുകയൂള്ളുതവനന്നയാ ഒനക്ഷം തെതന്ന നമല്പ്പറഞ
നരഖകളസിതലയാന്നസിലക്ഷം പറഞസിടസില്ലെ. മറസിചണ്, ധനെസഹയായമയാതണന്നയാണണ് ഓര്ഡറസില് നെസിനക്ഷം
മനെസസിലയാകുന്നതെണ്. മയാത്രമല്ലെ, മസില്ലുക്ഷം അനുബന്ധ ഉപകരണങ്ങളക്ഷം വയാങ്ങസി സയാപസിചണ്
പ്രവര്തനെകമമയാകസിയ നശേഷക്ഷം കൃഷസി ഓഫഫീസസില് അറസിയസികയാന് പരയാതെസികയാരനനെയാടണ്
നെസിര്നദ്ദേശേസിചതെയായസി കൃഷസി അസസിസ്റ്റനണ് ഡയറക്ടര് സമര്പ്പസിച എകസിബസിറണ് 2 പ്രകയാരക്ഷം
കയാണുനതണ്ടെങസിലക്ഷം അല്ലെയാത പകക്ഷം ടസി തുക നെല്കയാന് സയാധസികസില്ലെയാതയനള്ള വസിവരക്ഷം
ടസിയയാതനെ അറസിയസിചതെയായസി അതെസില് കയാണുന്നസില്ലെ . പ്രസ്തുതെ വസിവരക്ഷം പരയാതെസികയാരതനെ
അറസിയസിചസിട്ടുള്ളതെണ് 1.9.2018 ല് മയാത്രമയാതണന്നണ് അസസിസ്റ്റനണ് ഡയറക്ടര് റസിനപ്പയാര്ടസിനനെയാതടയാപ്പക്ഷം
സമര്പ്പസിച എകസിബസിറണ് 3 വവ്യക്തമയാക്കുന. എന്നയാല് അതെസിതനെയാതക വളതര മുമണ് 28.3.2018
ല് ഡയറക്ടറുതട നമല് പ്രസയാവസിച ഓര്ഡറസിതന പസിന്ബലതസില് തനെല്ലുകുതണ് മസില്ലെസിനെയായസി
തചെനന്നയസിതല കമനെസികണ് പരയാതെസികയാരന് ഒരു ലകക്ഷം രൂപ അഡഡയാന്സണ് തകയാടുത
കഴസിഞസിരുന. അഡഡയാന്സസിനെതസില് പസിന്നഫീടണ് 50,000/- രൂപ കൂടസി കമനെസികണ് നനെരസിടണ്
തകയാടുതസിട്ടുതണ്ടെനക്ഷം പരയാതെസികയാരന് പറയുന. അഡഡയാൻസണ് തകയാടുത തുക
പരയാതെസികയാരനെണ് തെസിരസിച്ചു ലഭസിക്കുക എന്നതുക്ഷം പ്രയയാസമയാണണ്. ഇതെസിതനെയാതക പുറതമ, മസിലണ്ല
സയാപസിചണ് പ്രവർതസിപ്പസിചതെസിനു നശേഷതമ പണക്ഷം തകയാടുകയാന് പയാടുള്ളു എന കയാണസിക്കുന്ന
സര്കയാര് ഉതരവുകനളയാ മറണ് നെയപരമയായ തെഫീരുമയാനെങ്ങനളയാ, കമഫീഷന്
ആവശേവ്യതപ്പടസിട്ടുനപയാലക്ഷം, ഹയാജരയാകയാനനെയാ കയാണസിച്ചുതെരയാനനെയാ എതെസിര്കകസികള്കണ്
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
സയാധസിചസിടസില്ലെ.
മസിലണ്ല വയാങ്ങയാന് സഹയായക്ഷം അനുവദസിക്കുകയുക്ഷം, പതലകക്ഷം രൂപ പരയാതെസികയാരതന
ബയാങണ് അകക്കൗണ്ടെസിനലകണ് മയാറയാന് ഡയറക്ടര് നെസിര്നദ്ദേശേസിക്കുകയുക്ഷം, അതെസിതന അടസിസയാനെതസില്
യന്ത്രസയാമഗസികള് നെസിര്മസിക്കുന്ന കമനെസികണ് പരയാതെസികയാരന് അഡഡയാന്സണ് തകയാടുക്കുകയുക്ഷം
തചെയ്തതെസിനു നശേഷമയാണണ്, ഡയറക്ടറുതട 4.12.2017 തല ഓര്ഡറസിലക്ഷം 9.3.2018 തല കതസിലക്ഷം
ഒനക്ഷം പറയയാത പുതെസിയ വവ്യവസകളമയായസി കൃഷസി വകുപ്പണ് വന്നസിരസിക്കുന്നതതെനള്ളതെണ് വളതര
വവ്യക്തമയാണണ്. വസ്തുതെകള് പരസിനശേയാധസിക്കുനമയാള് നമല് സക്ഷംഗതെസികതളല്ലെയാക്ഷം ഉനദവ്യയാഗസരുതട
നെസിയമവസിരുദ്ധ പ്രവര്തനെങ്ങളയാതണനള്ള പരയാതെസികയാരതന വയാദക്ഷം അനെവ്യയായമയാതണന്നണ്
കരുതെയാന് കഴസിയസില്ലെ. ഇതരക്ഷം പ്രവൃതസികള് മൂലക്ഷം പരയാതെസികയാരനെണ് കഷ്ടനെഷ്ടങ്ങള്
ഉണ്ടെയായസിട്ടുതണ്ടെനക്ഷം ആയതെണ് ടസിയയാതന മനുഷവ്യയാവകയാശേക്ഷം ലക്ഷംഘസികതപ്പടസിട്ടുതണ്ടെനമയാണണ്
കമഫീഷതന കതണ്ടെതല്.
നമല്പറഞ വസ്തുതെകളതട തവളസിചതസില്, പരയാതെസികയാരനെണ് അനുവദസിച
ധനെസഹയായക്ഷം നെസിനഷധസിചതെണ് ഒട്ടുക്ഷം ശേരസിയയായ നെടപടസിയല്ലെ. ആ സയാഹചെരവ്യതസില്,
തനെല്ലുകുതണ് യന്ത്രക്ഷം സയാപസിക്കുന്നതെസിനെണ് പരയാതെസികയാരനെണ് ധനെസഹയായമയായസി അനുവദസിച
10,00,000/- (പതണ് ലകക്ഷം രൂപ) ഈ ഉതരവസിതന പകര്പ്പണ് കസിടസി രണ്ടു മയാസതസിനെകക്ഷം
പരയാതെസികയാരതന അകക്കൗണ്ടെസില് നെസിനകപസികണതമനക്ഷം തുടര്ന്നണ് അതെണ് സക്ഷംബന്ധസിചണ് ഒരു
Action taken report കമഫീഷനെസില് സമര്പ്പസികണതമനക്ഷം കയാര്ഷസിക വസികസനെ കര്ഷക
നകമ വകുപ്പണ് ഡയറക്ടനറയാടണ് കമഫീഷന് നെസിര്നദ്ദേശേസിക്കുന. Action taken report
പരസിഗണസിക്കുന്നതെസിനെയായസി 2020 ജൂണ് മയാസതസിതല കവ്യയാമണ് സസിറസിക്ഷംഗസില് ഈ നകസണ്
വസിളസിക്കുന്നതെയാണണ്.
ഈ ഉതരവസിതന പകര്പ്പണ് പരയാതെസികയാരനുക്ഷം കയാര്ഷസിക വസികസനെ കര്ഷക നകമ
വകുപ്പണ് ഡയറക്ടര്ക്കുക്ഷം തതെയാടുപുഴ കൃഷസി അസസിസ്റ്റനണ് ഡയറക്ടര്ക്കുക്ഷം അയക്കുക."
6. Admittedly, Ext.P5 order is in force even
now. This order was passed on 17.03.2020, after
considering the contentions of the respondents.
Human Rights Commission rejected all the contentions
of the respondents. As long as the directions in
Ext.P5 order is in force, the stand of the
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
respondents can not be accepted. According to me,
the amount is to be disbursed as directed by the
State Human Rights Commission in Ext.P5 forthwith.
Therefore Ext.P5 order is to be implemented by the
respondents concerned within ten days from the date
of receipt of a copy of this judgment.
Hence, this writ petition is disposed in the
following manner:
i) The competent officer among the respondents
will disburse the amount to the account of the
petitioner as directed in Ext.P5 order within ten
days from the date of receipt of a copy of this
judgment.
Sd/-
P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN
JUDGE
DM
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 3241/2021
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF CIRCULAR NO.TA(1) 15445/17
DATED 06.06.2017 CONTAINING THE WORKING
INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE SCHEME.
EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF ORDER NO.TA(1) 49569/17
DATED 04.12.2017 ISSUED BY RESPONDNET NO.
EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE AGREEMENT DATED
25.02.2018 EXECUTED BETWEEN THE
PETITIONER AND THE MUTHALAKKODAM
PADASEKHARA SAMITHI.
EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF LETTER NO.TA(1) 49569/17
DATED 09.03.2018 ISSUED BY RESPONDENT
NO.2.
EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 17.03.2020
ISSUED BY THE KERALA STATE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION.
EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 08.04.2019
ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.3.
EXHIBIT P7 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED
24.08.2020 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER.
EXHIBIT P8 TRUE COPY OF THE EMAIL FROM THE OFFICE OF
THE AGRICULTURE MINISTER ON 01.09.2020.
EXHIBIT P9 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED
20.01.2021 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER
BEFORE RESPONDENT NO.2.
EXHIBIT P10 TRUE COPY OF NOTE NO.TA(1) 49569/17 DATED
08.01.2021 ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.1.
EXHIBIT P11 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 27.01.2021
ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.5.
EXHIBIT P12 TRUE COPY OF THE INVOICE DATED 23.01.2021
ISSUED FROM THE MILLIMORE ENGINEERING
WP(C) NO.3241/2021
PRIVATE LTD., CHENNAI.
EXHIBIT P13 TRUE COPY OF THE ACCOUNT STATEMENT OF THE
PETITIONER IN STATE BANK OF INDIA,
THODUPUZHA BRANCH FOR THE PERIOD
01.01.2018 TO 31.03.2018.
EXHIBIT P14 TRUE COPY OF KERALA MICRO SMALL MEDIUM
ENTERPRISES FACILITATION ACT, 2019 (ACT
16 OF 2019)
EXHIBIT P15 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
PARTICIPATION DATED 1/3/2021
RESPONDENTS EXHIBITS : NIL
//TRUE COPY//
PA TO JUDGE
