Ordinary Public Forced To Approach Court For Getting Their Representations Considered While Govt Officials Prioritise People With Power: Madras HC
Lamenting on the situations prevailing the State, the Madras High Court recently observed that ordinary citizens were being forced to approach court for a simple direction to government authorities to consider representations. Justice P Velmurugan observed that the Government Officials who were expected to serve the ordinary citizens, now prioritised only people who had muscle...
Lamenting on the situations prevailing the State, the Madras High Court recently observed that ordinary citizens were being forced to approach court for a simple direction to government authorities to consider representations.
Justice P Velmurugan observed that the Government Officials who were expected to serve the ordinary citizens, now prioritised only people who had muscle power, money, or political power, ignoring the ordinary man. The court deprecated this attitude of the government officials.
“This is the situation prevailing in this State. Though the Government Officials have been placed for serving the public, most of the Government Officials are not giving any care to the ordinary public and they are giving priority only to the persons who are having muscle power, money power, political power and they ignore the rustic villagers and also the ordinary citizens,” the court observed.
The court was hearing the plea of a man seeking directions to the Krishnagiri District Collector to consider his representation. It was informed that even after 6 months, the petitioner had not received any notice for enquiry or a reply to his representation.
The court noted that directions were already issued to dispose of applications/ petitions/ appeals/ revisions etc filed before the appropriate authorities within a stipulated time. The court noted that based on the above direction, a circular was also issued by the Commissioner of Land Administration in July 2023. However, the court noted that the Revenue Authorities were not following these directions issued by the court or the circular issued by the Government.
Thus, the court directed the authorities to consider the petitioner's representation and issue notice to him, rival claimants, interested parties, objectors and to conduct an enquiry as per law and pass orders on merit within a period of two months.
Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr.R.Narendran
Counsel for the Respondents: Mrs.V.Yamunadevi Special Government Pleader, Mr.K.Karthikeyan Government Advocate (HR & CE)
Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Mad) 58
Case Title: SR Sathyanarayana Rao v The District Collector and Others
Case No: W.P. No.40 of 2024