THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE K.SARATH

ORDER:

This writ petition is filed praying this Court to declare the action of the respondent No.1 in not paying ex gratia relief of Rs.5.00 lakhs on Token No.2523388236 to the petitioner for the death of her daughter Thammali Narsamma due to ‘Thunderbolt’ on 06.05.2017, despite of administrative sanction and release of funds through G.O.Rt.No.29, Revenue (DM-I) department, dated 30.09.2024, even after lapse of considerable time, as illegal and arbitrary and consequently to direct the respondent No.1 to release the said ex gratia relief to the petitioner.

2. It is stated that the petitioner’s family is eking out their livelihood by doing agriculture. The petitioner’s daughter namely Thammali Narsamma D/o.Late Anthaiah, died on 06.05.2017 due to hit by “Thunderbolt”, while she was working in agricultural field situated at the outskirts of Indur Village, Peddemul Mandal, Vikarabad District. It is further stated that the State Government with a laudable object had issued G.O.Ms.No.1, Revenue (DM) Department, dated 04.05.2015, wherein the Government enhanced the ex gratia to the poor and marginal farmers and others from Rs.50,000/- to Rs.5.00 lakhs. It is further stated that since there is no earning member in the family to eke out her livelihood, the petitioner made application for grant of ex gratia and the said application was forwarded to the Government and the Government has sanctioned statutory ex gratia of Rs.5.00 lakhs from SDRF for the death of the daughter of petitioner due to thunderbolt on 06.05.2017 through G.O.Rt.No.29 Revenue (DM-I) Department dated 30.09.2024 and released the funds through BRO No.1237 Finance (EBS-VII) Department dated 24.09.2024 as per G.O.Ms.No.1 Revenue (DM) Department dated 04.05.2015. The office of the respondent No.3-District Collector has uploaded the bill online for payment of ex gratia and also raised Token No.2523388236, but the same is pending with the respondent No.1-Finance Department. The grievance of the petitioner is that though token number was issued, the respondent authorities did not release the said ex gratia amount to the petitioner.

Hence, this writ petition.

3. Considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the parties and with their consent this writ petition is being disposed of at the admission stage.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that though the Government has already identified various beneficiaries in the entire State of Telangana and ex gratia was sanctioned for the death of the daughter of petitioner and token number was issued, the respondents did not release the said amount.

5. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Finance and Planning has not disputed the entitlement of the petitioner to receive the ex gratia amount of Rs.5.00 lakhs for the death of her daughter.

6. As seen from the record, the Government, as a policy decision, has identified various persons for grant of ex gratia in terms of G.O.Rt.No.29, dated 30.09.2024. The daughter of the petitioner died in the year, 2017 and seven years thereafter, the respondents have considered for payment of ex gratia vide BRO No.1237 Finance (EBS-VII) Department dated 24.09.2024 and basing on the same, G.O.Rt.No.29 dated 30.09.2024 was issued. Even after lapse of one year, the respondent authorities has not released the said ex gratia amount or deposited into the account of the petitioner. If the State has not released the ex gratia amount, the very object of the State for enunciating the policy for payment of ex gratia and also the purpose of issuance of the Government Orders for the benefit of the downtrodden community or below poverty line to eke out their livelihood would be defeated. It is very unfortunate that even after a period of one year and even after issuing the G.O.Rt. in the month of September, 2024, the petitioner was not paid the ex gratia amount. Keeping in mind the very object of the policy being enunciated by the Government under variou