R.DHARUMAN Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN both the writ petitions, the relief claimed by the petitioners are identical. They sought for a direction to the Union of India to exercise power under Sub-Sections 1 and 2 of Section 30 of Tea Act, 1953 to fix the minimum price of green tea leaf payable to the petitioners, being small tea growers in the district of Nilgiris.

(2.) THE petitioner in the first writ petition is a retired Government Employee owning a small tea garden, to the extent of 1.5 acres at Kekkatty Village, Nilgiris District. The petitioner in the second writ petition is a practising Advocate owning a small tea garden to the extent of 1.5 acres at Kotagiri, Nilgiris District.

(3.) ON notice from this Court, a counter affidavit dated 02.07.2012 was filed in both writ petitions by the third respondent, Tea Board of India, having headquarters at Kolkatta. On a direction from this Court, a copy of the report submitted by Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) was produced by the learned counsel for the third respondent.