C. SHUKKUR Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is filed by a person, who claims to be a public spirited citizen, seeking a direction to the respondents, who include the Director General of Police and the District Collector of Wayanad, to take appropriate measures to deal with funds allegedly collected by various organisations for the victims of the devastating landslide that occurred in Wayanad District ten days ago. The allegation in the writ petition is that funds are being collected by various social, political and religious organisations and canvassing done with the general public by asking them to contribute generously to specified bank accounts or 'apps' created for the purpose. The case of the petitioner is that the parallel fund collection is being pursued by the various organisations notwithstanding the steps taken by the State Government to mobilize funds from various quarters. The petitioner opines that the best remedy is to have a centralized system of collecting funds and utilising the same for rebuilding the infrastructure and towards that end, the collection drives organised by various organisations should be restricted/prohibited.

(2.) We have heard Sri.Abdul Raoof Pallipath, the learned counsel for the petitioner as also Sri.V. Tekchand, the learned Government Pleader for the respondents.

(3.) At the very outset, we might observe that the writ petition is absolutely shorn of any details regarding any misuse by those allegedly collecting funds for the purpose of transmitting the same to the intended beneficiaries viz. the victims of the recent landslide that occurred in Wayanad District. What is produced along with the writ petition are copies of various pamphlets issued by organisations/associations of persons who are engaged in such fund collection. There is nothing to suggest that any of the funds collected pursuant to those advertisements have not reached the intended beneficiaries. More importantly, it is not the case of the petitioner that he had approached the Police or the District Administration with any representation or complaint pointing out any alleged misuse of funds by the persons allegedly collecting these funds.