ANKUR PRATHISTHAN AND SANSHODHAN SANSTHA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY, SHRI JANARDHAN S/O SHAHAJIRAO MUNDHE Vs. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS Petition filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution brings in question the order dated 20th April, 2002 issued by the Director of Social Welfare, Maharashtra State, Pune granting permission in favour of the respondent No. 7 to run the Vrudha Ashram at Ambejogai and further seeks directions to consider the application of the petitioner for running the said Vrudha Ashram. The other reliefs are for directions to release an amount of Rs. 12,88,830/ - and also the unpaid amount of grant -in -aid for the period from March, 2000 to June, 2002.

(2.) BRIEF facts which are relevant, could be set out as under:

(3.) ON 3rd December, 2001, the State Government issued another resolution and invited applications to run Vrudha Ashram on no grants basis all over the State. This resolution was applicable to the existing as well as proposed Vrudha Ashrams. Pursuant to the said resolution, an advertisement was released in some of the leading local newspaper on or about 17th December, 2001. At the same time, on 31.12.2001, the Additional Secretary in the Department of Social Justice, Cultural Affairs, Sports and Special Assistance, addressed a letter to the petitioner referring to its appeal and the hearing thereon. The petitioner was requested to submit a fresh proposal in response to the Resolution dated 3rd December, 2001 for running the subject Vrudha Ashram at Ambejogai as an Unaided Institution, if it was so willing. Consequently, the petitioner also submitted a fresh proposal. By the impugned order dated 20.4.2002 permission was granted in favour of the respondent No. 7 to run the subject Vrudha Ashram at Ambejogai and on signing an agreement between the parties, reigns of the Institution were handed over to the respondent No. 7 on 7th June, '2002.