Judicial intervention required for timely administrative reimbursement to cooperative society under public authority obligations.

JUDGMENT

Petitioner is a Cooperative Society, which was engaged as a distribution agent for ration commodities sourced from the Food Corporation of India and Supplyco. According to the petitioner during the period from 21.04.2017 to 14.09.2017, petitioner was engaged as a transportation agent as well.

2. The petitioner contends that, there was a change in the scheme, and by Exhibit-P1, petitioner was directed to return the stock already handed over to it, for which amounts had also been paid by the petitioner. Petitioner immediately complied with the direction. However, the reimbursement of the amount already paid on account of the return of the goods as well as the transportation charges was not carried out by the respondents for the last several years. Despite repeated requests, the respondents have avoided releasing the amounts due to the petitioner. It is further alleged that despite the recommendation by the 4^th respondent, as per Exhibit-P7, the competent amongst respondents 3 and 5 have not reimbursed the amount due to the petitioner.

3. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the respecitive Standing Cousel for the respondents and the leared Government Pleader.

4. Petitioner has submitted a representation before the 6th respondent, who is the controlling authority as per Exhibit-P13 dated 05.04.2025. Despite the lapse of almost a year, the said respondent has not taken a decision. Petitioner is hence subject to serious loss. Even though the petitioner seeks for a direction to reimburse the amount, considering the fact that Exhibit-P13 representation is pending before the 6th respondent, I am of the view that this writ petition can be disposed of with a direction.

Accordingly, there will be a direction to the 6^th respondent to consider Exhibit-P13 representation submitted by the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, after granting an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner as well as respondents 3 and 5.

The writ petition is disposed of as above.

Sd/-