MADA SURYAPRAKASH REDDY Vs. PRL SECY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant/petitioner is aggrieved by the judgment and order dated 20.02.2018 passed by the learned Single Judge dismissing W.P.No.38329 of 2015 filed by him claiming that the respondent No.3/Joint Collector had erred in granting permission to the respondent No.7 to open a new Mee-Seva Citizen Service Center (CSC) at Bhimaram Village of Jaipur Mandal, Adilabad District, vide letter dated 14.10.2015.

(2.) The plea of the appellant/petitioner before the learned Single Judge was that the aforesaid permission had been granted contrary to G.O.Ms.No.45 dated 09.10.2012 read with the guidelines dated 01.01.2014 and G.O.Ms.No.10 dated 18.10.2011 issued by the respondent No.1/State of Telangana. By the impugned order, the learned Single Judge has dismissed the writ petition filed by the appellant/petitioner on the ground that it was misrepresented by him that the population of the subject village was less than 5000, which was factually erroneous. It has been held that in view of the fact that the people have adapted to technology and more and more persons own smart phones, they expect seamless access to information through ICT platforms. Such an expectation by those residing in rural areas cannot be questioned, as such Centres provide a hub for all internet-related activities. We may reproduce below, paras 7 and 8 of the impugned order, which contains the reasons for rejecting the writ petition:-

(3.) As is apparent from a perusal of the impugned order, the learned Single Judge has taken into consideration the increase in the population of the village, instead of relying on the population reflected in the 2011 census. The court has also taken note of the fact that the village in question has become the Mandal Headquarters and the population has risen to 15,493 even as per the 2011 census. We are of the opinion that the learned Single Judge has rightly held that making another Mee-Seva center available in the area is not a decision taken without any application of mind and nor was there any political pressure for granting permission to open another Mee-Seva center.