Al Quraish Human Welfare Association v. The State Of Maharashtra Through Government Pleader

8-PIL-17-2025.doc Pdp

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO.17 OF 2025 Al-Quraish Human Welfare Association & Ors.

.. Petitioners

Versus

The State of Maharashtra & Ors.

.. Respondents Mr. A. A. Siddiquie a/w Chowdhari Moin i/by A. A. Siddiquie & Associates for petitioners.

Ms. Jyoti Chavan, Addl. Government Pleader a/w Fatima Lakdawala, AGP for respondent nos.1 and 2-State. Ms. Chaitalee Deochake i/by Komal Punjabi for respondent nos.3 and 4- BMC.

CORAM:

ALOK ARADHE, CJ. & M. S. KARNIK, J.

by PRAVIN DASHARATH PANDIT Date:

2025.04.08 16:45:38 +0530 PRAVIN DASHARATH PANDIT DATE:

8th APRIL, 2025 ORAL ORDER [Per Chief Justice]:

Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith. With the consent of the learned counsel for the parties, heard finally. 2.

In this writ petition, filed as Public Interest Litigation, the petitioners, inter alia, has assailed the validity of the Government notification dated 23rd May, 2022 by which medical examination fees in respect of cattle have been increased from Rs.20/- to Rs.200/-. The petitioners, in addition seeks a direction to the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Animal Husbandry Dairy Development & Fisheries Department to refund the excess medical examination fees of Rs.32,61,240/- collected during the occasion of Bakra Eid festival 2023.

8-PIL-17-2025.doc 3.

We have heard the learned counsel for the parties. 4.

A Division Bench of this Court by an interim order dated 31st May, 2024 passed in the present PIL had granted liberty to the petitioners to submit a representation to the State Government and the State Government was directed to consider the same.

5.

Today when the matter is called out, learned counsel for the parties jointly submitted that State Government had considered the representation submitted by the petitioners and had reduced the medical examination fees from Rs.200/- to Rs.20/- on the occasion of Bakra Eid festival in the year 2024.

6.

The issue with regard to increase of fees is in the realm of a policy. In the facts and circumstances of the case, ends of justice would be met if the petitioners are granted the liberty to submit a representation to the State Government for reduction of medical examination fees of cattle from Rs.200/- to Rs.20/- for the remaining period of the year as well. Needless to state that in case such a representation is made, suitable decision on the said representation shall be taken by the Competent Authority, expeditiously, in accordance with law.

7.

With the aforesaid liberty, the PIL is disposed of. (M. S. KARNIK, J.) (CHIEF JUSTICE)