The Madras High Court has directed the Deputy Collector/Regional Manager, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, Madurai (second respondent) to consider the petitioner’s representation on its merits and pass appropriate orders within a period of 12 weeks over conducting an inquiry on the disappearance of 3,049 paddy bags.
The petitioner, P. Arumugam, has sought a direction to the second respondent to conduct an inquiry with regard to the disappearance of 3049 paddy bags which were stocked in District Paddy Procurement Center situated in Valrajapuram DPC, Chellampatti Union, Usilampatti Taluk, Madurai District and consequently take steps to get back the same on the basis of the petitioner’s representation, dated 27.04.2022.
While considering the petition, the single bench of Justice M.S. Ramesh pointed out that whenever a representation of this nature is made to a Statutory Authority, there is a duty cast upon the respondents to consider the same on its own merits and pass appropriate orders in one way or other, instead of keeping the same pending indefinitely.
As such, non-consideration of the representation by the Statutory Authority would amount to dereliction of duty and hence, the Court will be justified in invoking its extraordinary powers under Article 226 of the Constitution and direct them to consider the same within a stipulated time.
In the light of the above observations, the Bench directed the second respondent to consider the petitioner’s representation dated 27.04.2022 on its own merits and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is clarified by the Court that it has not expressed any of its views with regard to the merits of the claim of the petitioner and that it is open to the concerned respondent to consider the same on its own merits.