1980 Supreme(J&K) 64
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AT SRINAGAR
S.M. Rizvi,G.A. Kuchhai, JJ.
Awami Behboodi Committee - Appellant
Versus
State Of J&K & Ors. - Respondent
Writ Petition No. 88/1980
Decided On : 29 June, 1980
Important Points
Subject
Constitutional Law - DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY
Act Referred
Headnote
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY - ARTICLE 24 - UPGRADATION OF HEALTH CENTRE - PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION - MAINTAINABILITY - WRIT PETITION - DISMISSED.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, a village body, sought to quash an order upgrading a subsidiary health centre at D.K. Pora, Shopian, and sought a mandamus for the upgradation of a subsidiary health centre at Harman, Shopian, alleging political interference and deprivation of their right to healthcare.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the petitioner had no justifiable right to agitate before the court for want of any Government decision regarding the upgradation of the Health Centre at Harmar, nor any concession afforded by the State to the petitioner body has been withdrawn by the Govt.
Issues: 1. Whether the petitioner had a justifiable right to agitate before the court for the upgradation of the Health Centre at Harmar? 2. Whether the upgradation of the subsidiary Health Centre at D.K. Pora to Primary Health Centre violated any fundamental right of the petitioner?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the directive principles of the State Policy contained in the Constitution have only a guiding force for the state to look into the public priorities and are not justiciable before the court of law. 2. The court held that the upgradation of the subsidiary Health Centre at D.K. Pora to Primary Health Centre was a subject of the Executive Process after looking into the feasibility of the site and availability of funds, which aspect cannot be looked into by the court.
Final Decision: The writ petition was dismissed in limine.
Advocate For Appellant: S.T. Hussain
Advocate For Appellant: G.N. Hagroo
Advocate For Respondent: M.M. Din
Advocate For Respondent: M.H. Beigh
1. An order No.34-HME of 1988 dated 18-1-1988 passed by the respondent for upgradation of subsidiary Health Centre at D.K. Pora, Shopian, sought to be quashed has been made basis for this petition, seeking further relief of mandamus to respondents for upgradation of Subsidiary Health Centre at village Harman Shopian, for which according to the petitioner, provision has been made in the budget by the respondent, giving the petitioner, a village body for welfare of the area, a right to knock the door of this court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 103 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
2. The facts, putforth by the petitioner, are: that several representations having been made to the Respondent authorities including his Excellency the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, for upgradation of Subsidiary Health Centre at Harman, respondent No.4 has kept a provision in the District Budget for upgradation of Subsidiary Health Centre to Primary. Health Centre but due to political interference, village Harman, site of the Subsidiary Health Centre falling in Kulgam Assembly constituency where an opposition candidate has been returned, the decision of the Cabinet (District Board) Committee got influenced and found favour with the upgradation of Subsidiary Health Centre at D.K. Pora to Primly Health Centre under order impugned as this village fell an the Shopian Assembly constituency, where ruling party candidate in the Assembly election has been returned, resulting deprivation of the petitioners of up-gradation of their subsidiary Health Centre at Harman.
3. Respondents on being noticed vide their written objections on behalf of respondents 1 to 4 represented by Mr. M.M. Din, AAG and Respondent No.5 represented by Mr.Baig, objected commonly the maintainability of the petition for the reason, the petitioner being a non-recognised body further no provision in the budget having been made by the respondent-Slate in respect of Upgradation of Subsidiary Health Centre at Harman except the recommendation by respondent No.4 Chief Medical Officer, pulwama to the higher authorities to tie effect for upgradation of Subsidiary Health Centre at Harman which recommendation has no binding force on the Govt. nor the recommendation relied by the petitioner confers any right on them to maintain this writ pension, particularly when a location of funds at District Level in presence of single lint Administration is being made by the Govt. on the Assembly constituency basis. The upgradation of subsidiary Health Centre at D.K. Pora to P.H.C. is an outcome of cabinet decision on verification of record consideration of feasibility, and recommendation of District Development Commissioned Pulwama, on the subject the petitioners™ claim cannot be entertained by the Court as it is the Executive authority alone-to judge and meet the public demand.
4. We have heard learned counsel for the parties.
Mr. Hussain, for the petition at the very outlet withdrew the allegation of political mala fide raised in his petition but relied on directive prinoiple regarding maintenance of public health contained in Section 24 of the State Constitution having obligatory force on the Government to provide medical care to the people of the area. He argued that in modern democratic set up of the society the State is adopting the trends laid in directive principles of the Constitution to provide facilities to needy sections of the Society. Mr.Hussain further in support of the arguments referred to several decisions of the Supreme Court on the subject of public interest litigation for removal of public grievances, even demands of weaker sections of the society including facilities for remote area of the country. The notable decisions referred to are:
AIR: 1987 : SC : 1109 (Sh Sachidanand Pandey & anr (appellants)
V/s
The State of West Bengal & ors. (Respondents)
AIR : 1986 : SC : 180(Olga Tellis V/s Bombay Municipal Corporation)
AIR : 1986 : SC : 847