Court mandates timely compliance with administrative decisions, reinforcing the need for accountability in public service operations.

JUDGMENT

This writ petition is submitted by the petitioner seeking the following reliefs:

“i. issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction commanding the 2^nd and 3^rd respondents to do the needful for reinstalling the digital library software, integrate the scanned text books with the software, and provide training to the personnel in the library attached to the Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara, in pursuance to Ext.P8 agreement and Exts.P10 and P11 communications of the 3rd respondent, forthwith;

ii. issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction commanding the 2nd respondent to consider and dispose of Ext.P13 representation, with notice to the petitioner, forthwith;

iii. issue such other writ, order or direction which may deem fit in the facts and circumstances of the case;”

2. The facts that led to the filing of this writ petition are as follows: Earlier, the petitioner was entrusted with the work of digitization of the books in the library of the Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara based on the agreement executed between the petitioner and the 2^nd respondent. In the meantime, the 1^st respondent initiated an enquiry against the Principle who entered into the contract with the petitioner on the reason that the said contract was entered into and the work was entrusted to the petitioner, without obtaining prior permission from the 1^st respondent. After conducting an enquiry, the matter was referred to the Government for taking a decision in this regard. In the meantime, the petitioner approached the authority seeking permission to reinstall the digital library software, integrate the scanned text books with the software, and provide training to the personnel in the library attached to the College, in pursuance to Ext.P8 agreement. The same was not permitted and this writ petition is filed seeking the aforesaid reliefs.

3. Today when the matter came up for consideration, the learned Counsel for the petitioner brought to the attention of this Court, Ext.P14 communication issued by the Principal Secretary to the Department of Higher Education addressed to the 1^st respondent, wherein, it is intimated that, the proceedings proposed against the Principal, who entrusted the work to the petitioner, are dropped and the direction was issued to the 1^st respondent to complete the work of digitization expeditiously.

In the light of the above, this writ petition can be disposed of. In such circumstances, the petitioner shall submit a representation before the 1^st respondent within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment and thereupon, the 1^st respondent shall take a decision on the same, taking note of the directions issued by the Government in Ext.P14 order. Such a decision shall be taken within a period of one month from the date of receipt of the said representation.

Sd/-

ZIYAD RAHMAN A.A.