C M KAMARAJ PROPRIETOR SAKTHI COCO PRODUCTS Vs. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AGRICULTURAL AND PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY APEDA NCUI BUILDING

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD the learned counsels appearing for the petitioner and the respondent.

(2.) THIS writ petition has been filed praying for a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the order of the respondent, dated 10.10.2000, rejecting the application of the petitioner for the grant of Marketing Development Assistance, quash the same and to direct the respondent to grant the Marketing Development Assistance announced by the Government of India for participation in the fair India-2000 Industrial Exhibitions held in Saudi Arabia from the 18th to the 24th of September, 2000.

(3.) IT has been stated that the said scheme had been announced by the Government of India in order to promote export activities to foreign countries. Accordingly, the Government of India had announced the marketing development assistance scheme for the participation in India-2000 Industrial Exhibitions, which was to be conducted in Saudi Arabia from 18th to 24th September, 2000. Immediately, after the announcements had been made, the petitioner had informed the respondent that he is a leading manufacturer of desiccated coconut powder, which is used in the biscuit manufacturing industry. The said product was being exported to Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries. The petitioner had submitted the prescribed application for the marketing development assistance grant for participation in the fair, on 26.6.2000, with an estimated expenditure of 2500 US Dollars, which is equal to Rs.1,50,000/-. After the receipt of the application, the respondent had informed the petitioner in letter No.APEDA/PPD/SCH/2000/2900, dated 6.7.2000, that the guidelines for the marketing development assistance scheme had been revised and the format had been changed. Therefore, the petitioner was asked to submit a fresh application as per the revised guidelines. Accordingly, the petitioner had sent a fresh application as directed by the respondent in annexure III of the revised guidelines claiming a sum of Rs.1,10,000/-, for the marketing development assistance grant for sales-cum-study tour abroad in the fair to be held at Saudi Arabia, during the year, 2000.