IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU ON THE 09TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2019 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVI MALIMATH AND THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO.31630 OF 2019 (GM-RES) BETWEEN:
SRI H.S.KANAKANNAVAR SON OF HANUMANTHAPPA AGED ABOUT 85 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.994 5TH ‘B’ CROSS, H.R.B.R. LAYOUT 1ST BLOCK, NEAR BANK AVENUE KALYANANAGAR BENGALURU-560 043.
...PETITIONER (BY SRI: SATISH M. DODDAMANI, ADVOCATE) AND:
1. UNION OF INDIA FINANCE MINISTRY DEPARTMENT OF INVESTMENT AND PUBLIC ASSET MANAGEMENT CABINET SECRETARIAT NORTH BLOCK, RAISINA HILL NEW DELHI-110 011, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.
2. UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL UDYOG BHAVAN NEW DELHI-110 011 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.
3. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE DEPARTMENT M.S. BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001.
4. THE CHAIRMAN STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA ISPATH BHAVAN, LODHI ROAD DELHI-110 003.
…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI:MADANAN PILLAI R., CGC FOR R1 AND R2; SRI:K.SACHINDRA KARANTH, ADV. FOR R4 (ABSENT)) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT NO.2 TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION GIVEN BY THE PETITIONER DATED 18.02.2019 VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND THE REPRESENTATION DATED 09.05.2019 VIDE ANNEXURE- A1; DIRECT THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO LEASE VAST EXTENT OF IRON ORE LAND IN FAVOUR OF VISL, BHADRAVATHI FOR ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND ETC.
***** THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR ADMISSION THIS DAY, RAVI MALIMATH J., PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
ORDER This petition is filed in the interest of public seeking for a writ of mandamus to direct respondent No.2 to consider the representation vide Annexures-A and A1.
2. It is the plea of petitioner that Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited (for short ‘VSIL), factory at Bhadravati was sought to be taken over by the Steel Authority of India Limited in the year 1989. That a large number of employees are involved. It is learnt that the authority is also willing to sell the property to private enterprise. Hence, it is pleaded that the request of the petitioner be considered.
3. Heard learned Counsels.
4. We have also considered the representation made by the petitioner. It is only a request to restore the factory to its original position and to run the same as such.
5. On considering the contentions, we do not find any merit in this petition. The factory has been handed over somewhere in the year 1989 to Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The SAIL are in the process to consider the viability or otherwise of the factory in question. Filing of this representation after 30 years and seeking for a relief is inappropriate. Even otherwise, it is a policy decision of the Government and interference by the writ Court is wholly unwarranted.
Under these circumstances, we do not find that any public interest is affected. Hence, the petition is dismissed.
Sd/- JUDGE Sd/- JUDGE *bgn/-