Karthik.S v. State Of Tamilnadu Represented By
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 13.06.2022
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.N.PRAKASH and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE S.ANANTHI W.P.(MD) No.10217 of 2022 S.Karthik ... Petitioner -vs1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by the Principal Secretary, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director, Directorate of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
3.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Madurai District - 625 002.
... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of Mandamus to, a) Direct the Respondents to set up 'Special Counters' at every Adi Dravidar Welfare offices functioning at Madurai and other Districts in the State of Tamil Nadu and to publish the entire particulars such as application form, important dates, prospectus etc, about the Adi Dravidar Welfare Schemes' in the official website of the Respondents, so that the students belong to Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes Community shall avail the welfare schemes regarding the educational opportunities in an easy and transparent manner in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Honorable Court.
b) Direct the Respondent no.1 to recollect the sum of Rs.927 Crores which was handed over unused under 'Adi Dravidar Welfare Schemes' by the Respondent no.1 department to the Government of Tamil Nadu in the past five years and to provide the same as the relief fund in the light of giving opportunities for the students belong to Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes Community for the financial needs
during their Higher Education such Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Ph.D and other higher education in abroad in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner :
Mr.R.Alagumani For Respondents :
Mr.D.Sadiq Raja, Addl. Govt. Pleader for R1 to R3
O R D E R
(Made by P.N.PRAKASH, J.) The grievance of the petitioner is that the various welfare schemes that are announced for the welfare of the Adi Dravidar community by the Government from time to time are not made available for free access to the beneficiaries, on account of which, the beneficiaries do not even know the existence of such schemes.
2. On instructions, Mr.D.Sadiq Raja, learned Additional Government Pleader, submitted that the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department has uploaded in its website all the relevant information under the heading "CITIZEN CHARTER 2022-2023" and produced the hard copies of the same for our perusal.
3. We are satisfied that the Government has uploaded all the welfare schemes in their website and they have also uploaded the application forms which can be downloaded from the website to submit to the authorities.
4. The learned Additional Government Pleader also submitted that Adi Dravidar students are being sensitized through their educational institutions about the availability of schemes for their welfare. He also submitted a status report dated 06.06.2022 signed by the Commissioner of Adi Dravidar Welfare, wherein, in paragraph No.3, it is stated as follows:- "3.The department of Tribal Welfare has already launched a separate website in this regard. The department of Adi Dravidar Welfare is also planning to launch a separate website containing all informations related to the schemes and functions within a reasonable timeframe."
5. Recording the same, this writ petition stands closed with the direction to the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department to launch the proposed website at the earliest. No costs.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar (Records) // True Copy // /06/2022 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) pkn
To:
1.The Principal Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director, Directorate of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
3.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Madurai District - 625 002.
+1 CC to M/s.SPL.GP. ( SR-25572[F] dated 14/06/2022 ) W.P.(MD) No.10217 of 2022 13.06.2022 MGJ(23.06.2022) 3P 5C