The Court directed the respondent authority to consider and dispose of a pending representation for the grant of fishing rights within one week, emphasizing the time-sensitive nature of the fishing season and the livelihood of the society members.

ORDER:

This writ petition is filed with the following prayer:

“…to issue a Writ or Writs, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 3rd Respondent for not granting lease for fishing to the Fishermen Cooperative Society, Pothareddypet, Dubbak Mandal for the year 2025-26 is bad, arbitrary and contrary to the G.O.Ms.No.776 dated 31.12.1990 and also offends Arts. 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution of India and to pass such other or further orders as are deemed fit and proper in the circumstances of the case.”

2. Heard Mrs. M.Vidyavathi, learned counsel for petitioner, and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Animal Husbandry appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 3. Learned counsels agreed for disposal of the matter at the admission stage, matter is being heard and disposed of.

3. Petitioner is a Cooperative Society, Pothareddipet, Dubbak Mandal, Siddipet District (with Registration No.171/JK) registered on 29.04.1988. Membership of the Society is 184, area of operation is Pedda Cheruvu, Reddy Cheruvu and Yellamma Cheruvu located at Pothareddipet Village. It is stated that respondent authorities granted fishing rights as per G.O.Ms.No.776 (P7 at page No.31 of the writ papers), dated 31.12.1990, read with G.O.Ms. No.72, from the date of registration and upon payment of lease amounts, the members of the petitioner-Society are eking out their livelihood from fishing. Petitioner-Society made a representation, dated 28.03.2026, for grant of lease (P4 at page Nos.23 and 24 of writ papers) for fishing rights for the year 2025-26 and the same is pending. Grievance of petitioner is that third parties are carrying on fishing activities unauthorizedly, and that the fishing year is ending on 30.06.2026.

4. It is submitted by learned counsel for petitioner that petitioner-Society was granted fishing rights from the year of registration and the society members are eking their livelihood from fishing activity. Learned counsel inviting the attention of this Court to documents annexed i.e., Byelaw of petitioner-Society (P1 at page No.15); fishing order dated 29.03.2025 (P2 at page No.17); payment of lease amounts receipt dated 24.03.2025 (P3 at page No.20); fishing rights permit from 30.12.2023 to 30.06.2024 (P5 at page No.25); copy of General Body Meeting dated 31.03.2026 (P6 at page No.26) and G.O.Ms.No.776, dated 31.12.1990 (P7 at page No.31) submitted that petitioner-Society is entitled for fishing rights covering Pothareddipet Revenue Village. It is further submitted that a representation, dated 28.03.2026, is made to the District Officer of Fisheries, Siddipet, and Commissioner of Fisheries for grant of fishing rights (P4 at page Nos.23 and 24).

5. It is submitted that society members and their families would be put to hardship and their livelihood is affected, if fishing rights are not granted for year 2025- 2026 by respondent No.3. Learned counsel further submitted that a direction be issued to the concerned authority for grant of fishing rights to the petitioner-Society on payment of lease amounts for 2025-2026.

6. On the other hand, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Animal Husbandry appearing respondents submitted that the representation made by petitioner is dated 28.03.2026 and writ petition is filed seeking a direction for grant of fishing rights. It is further submitted that the respondent authorities shall dispose of the representation in accordance with law.

7. Heard learned counsels, perused the record and considered the submissions.

8. Petitioner is a registered Cooperative Society (Fisheries), members of petitioner-Society eke out their livelihood from fishing activity. Material on record indicates that petitioner-Society was granted fishing rights in certain tanks of Pothareddipet Revenue Village on payment of lease amounts. G.O.Ms.No.776, dated 31.12.1990, is in respect of allotment of fishing rights in the water sources in