C JAYASHREE SARATHY Vs. GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition was filed by the petitioners seeking suitable directions to the respondents not to send the Members of Legislative Assembly on foreign tour as per the press report dated 10-3-2002.

(2.) According to the petitioners the Chief Minister has already visited number of countries and, therefore, instead of sending these M.L.As. his dynamism and knowledge can be availed of. Since the Government is planning to indulge in expenditure without meeting the needs on priority basis, suitable direction should be issued to the Government not to send the M.L.As. to foreign countries and thereby incur expenditure which would affect the public exchequer. According to the petitioners since the financial condition of the State is unsatisfactory and the State is heavily indebted to the World Bank and substantial amount being paid to the World Bank towards interest this expenditure if incurred by the State will not serve any purpose and that the theme of gnan Andhra Pradesh (knowledge State) can be achieved if funds are allotted and properly utilised to remove illiteracy and poverty. The petitioners also expressed their grievance that a microscopically small percentage of budget is allotted to the courts of law and, therefore, the practice of sending the M.L.As. should be stopped forthwith. Our attention was drawn to the paper reports.

(3.) Counter-affidavit was filed by the State through one K.R.W. Yesudas who is working as Officer on Special Duty and Ex. Officio Joint Secretary to Government (Protocol), General Administration Department. The background to the policy decision of the Government to send the legislators to different countries to study the developmental schemes in such countries which were successfully implemented during the past few years with spectacular improvement in their economy has also been stated in extenso in the counter- affidavit. It is also mentioned that by and large the economies of the Asian countries are similar and each country can derive benefit from the progressive measures being taken in other countries. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has sponsored the scheme to depute legislators with information to the countries concerned. It is also stated that this is not a mere to urist programme but it is a programme essentially devised to secure the benefits of the expertise available in those countries. The respondent has specifically denied the contention of the petitioners that the financial position of the State is unsatisfactory and it is indebted to the World Bank. As a matter of policy the Government has proposed to depute the legislators on a study tour to certain countries viz., Malaysia, South Korea, China, Singapore, etc., which have recorded extraordinary growth rates in their economies during the last two decades and that the study tour will also allow the legislators to observe and experience the first hand developmental activities in those' countries and advise the Government on implementation of similar developmental activities in the State of Andhra Pradesh in order to achieve the goal of Swarnandhra Pradesh.