NANGUNERI RADHAPURAM TALUKS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS CO-OP MARKETING SOCIETY LIMITED Vs. PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By consent, this writ petition itself, is taken up for final disposal.

(2.) Mr.A.K.Baskarapandian, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice, on behalf of the respondents.

(3.) The petitioner claims to be the President of the Nanguneri Radhapuram Taluks, Agricultural Producers Co-operative Marketing Society Limited, O.1923, Valliyoor 627 117, Tirunelveli District. The petitioner has filed this writ petition, styled as a "Public Interest Litigation" and in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, would aver among other things that there are more than 306 Fair Price Shops in Radhapuram and Naguneri Taluks in Tirunelveli District and more than 5,00,000 Family Card Holders are provided with Family/Ration Cards and they are getting essential commodities given by the Government, through the respective Fair Price Shops. The petitioner would further state that, very recently, the Government of Tamil Nadu, has announced Pongal Gift Hamper, consisting 1 Kilogram of Raw Rice, 1 Kilogram of Sugar, a 2 feet long piece of Sugarcane one piece, 20 grams of Cashew-nut and other various items, to all the Family Card Holders, throughout the State for the purpose of celebrating "Pongal" festival. The first respondent, being the administrator of the Department, had also issued G.O.(2D)No.88, Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection (D1) Department, dated 29.12.2017, as to the mode of procurement and distribution of the Pongal Gift Hamper to all rice option card holders, including Police card holders and Sri Lankan Tamils living in camps [totally 1.84 crore cards], through Fair Price Shops.