P.ATTAKOYA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This public interest writ petition is filed by the petitioner, a native of Union Territory of Lakshadweep, seeking the following reliefs:

(2.) Material facts for the disposal of the writ petition are as follows; grievance of the petitioner is in relation to the affairs of 'SPORTS' , a society registered under the Societies Registration Act , 1860. Case of the petitioner is that the society, which is controlled by a few officials of the Lakshadweep Administration functions as a parallel Government with no accountability and thereupon properties, equipment and funds belonging to the Administration have found its way to the hands of SPORTS. It is submitted that nothing is contributed by SPORTS to the Government exchequer till date and the SPORTS does not even have audited accounts for the last three years of its existence i.e., after 2007-2008. It is also pointed out that a fair amount of revenue is generated by SPORTS and no portion thereof reaches the Administration or the islanders and it is also stated that SPORTS is a opaque, corrupt organisation functioning for the benefit of certain corrupt officials of the Lakshadweep Administration.

(3.) According to the petitioner, the Administration, in the teeth of audit objections raised from time to time, has taken a decision to dissolve SPORTS and merge it with the Lakshadweep Development Corporation (LDCL), a Government company or to float a Tourism Development Corporation. However, the decision was not being implemented. It is also pointed out that in terms of the Memorandum of Association of the society, the society can have upto 150 members. It must have a general body and a board of management and annual reports and budgets are to be placed before the general body. But SPORTS has only 10 to 12 members. Other contentions are also raised relying upon the Articles of Association of the Society. It is also pointed out that the Lakshadweep Administration occupied certain lands belonging to land owners in Bangaram Island.