SABITA PRADHAN Vs. UTKAL GRAMYA BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE aforesaid writ petitions have been filed by the petitioners with a prayer for quashing letter dated 22.09.2008 (Annexure -4) issued by opposite party No.2 -Grievance Redressal Officer, Utkal Gramya Bank, Sambalpur directing the opposite parties to categorize and enlist the petitioners as Small Farmers and to waive their loan/debt amount as per the Agricultural Debt Waiver and the Debt Relief Scheme, 2008 urging various facts and legal contentions.

(2.) SINCE these two writ petitions involve similar facts and law, the same are taken up together for hearing and final disposal on merits.

(3.) WITH reference to W.P.(C) No.2244 of 2009, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that as per Agricultural Debt Waiver and the Debt Relief Scheme, 2008 (for short, "Scheme -2008") announced by the Finance Minister, Government of India in his Budget Speech for 2008 -2009, an application dated 07.06.2004 (Annnexure -C/1) was presented by the petitioner for grant of loan under the Scheme -2008 for the purpose of cultivation of medicinal plants in the land owned by her. The said application of the petitioner was accepted and loan amount of Rs.12.00 lakhs was sanctioned by opposite party No.4 on 12.07.2004 in favour of the petitioner for cultivation of "Musli Safed" over an area of Ac 5.00 decimals basing on the recommendation and documents submitted by her. It is submitted that though the petitioner had taken a lease of an area of Ac 5.10 decimals for cultivation of "Safed Musli", which is Ayurvedic Medicinal Plant but the bank sanctioned loan for an area of Ac 5.00 decimals.