IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) PRESENT THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V. NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.22613 OF 2010 DATED:09.09.2010 Between: Badisa Durgamma … Petitioner And The Tahasildar, Buttaigudem Mandal West Godavari District … Respondent THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V. NAGARJUNA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO.22613 OF 2010 ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed for a Writ of Mandamus to declare the action of the respondent in not considering the petitioner’s application dated 02-06-2009 for issuance of Family Member Certificate, as illegal and arbitrary. The petitioner also seeks a consequential direction to the respondent to issue Family Member Certificate. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner, who is legally wedded wife of one Sri Badisa Durga Rao, Ex- Member of the Legislative Assembly from Polavaram Assembly Constituency, has applied to the respondent for a Family Member Certificate, following the death of her husband on 03.10.2008, for claiming certain benefits payable on the death of her husband. He further argued that the inaction of the respondent in issuing such a certificate, is illegal. At the hearing, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue submitted that evidently two women, including the petitioner, have competing claims over their status as the widow of the deceased person and that therefore no certificate has been issued by the respondent. When an application for a Family Member Certificate is filed, it is obligatory for the respondent to dispose of the same. If the respondent has legitimate reasons for not issuing Family Member Certificate, he shall dispose of the application by passing an appropriate order giving reasons for rejection. As this has not been done by the respondent, the Writ Petition is disposed of with the direction to the respondent to consider and dispose of the petitioner’s application dated 02-06-2009 on its own merits and communicate the decision to the petitioner within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. _______________________ C.V. NAGARJUNA REDDY, J 09.09.2010 bnr