ATUL VINAYAK GAIKWAD Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) On 13th March, 2020, Writ Petition (L) No.4624 of 2020 was moved before this Court by the two Petitioners residing in the Pune Cantonment Board, seeking the following reliefs :

(2.) Our attention was drawn by the Advocate for the Petitioners to the letter dated 5th March, 2020 written by the Petitioner No.2 to the Chief Executive Officer, Pune Cantonment Board, wherein he drew the attention of the Board to the problems faced by the citizens of the cantonment area, in view of the inaction on the part of the Pune Cantonment Board. Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the letter are relevant and reproduced hereunder :

(3.) The learned Advocate for the Petitioners has also drawn our attention to the Reply received from the Chief Executive Officer, Pune dated 9 th March, 2020, wherein the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pune Cantonment Board, has stated / admitted that the issues raised by the Petitioners in the letter are sensitive and important issue; that the Pune Cantonment Board is making its best efforts to obtain its legitimate share of GST and once the GST share is received, the Board will be better equipped to serve the general public at large specially within the limits of Pune Cantonments; that although the Cantonment Board is required to provide civic amenities and to take preventive measures when such a crisis emerge, the financial condition of the board is worsening day by day due to non-receipt of any funds/grants from the State Government; that though the Board is desirous of taking urgent steps/measures to curb and eradicate the dreadful virus, there is no provision of isolation wards in the Cantonment Hospital and the issue of inadequate funds is one of the reason for such unpreparedness; that the Board will be better equipped to serve the general public at large especially within the limits of Pune Cantonments.