IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.SURENDRA MOHAN TUESDAY, THE 9TH FEBRUARY 2010 / 20TH MAGHA 1931 WP(C).No. 2856 of 2010(F) ----------------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------------- AUGUSTY VARKEY, AGED 70 YEARS, S/O.AUGUSTY, PULICHAMAKKITHOTTI, THATTEKKADU P.O., KOTHAMANGALAM. BY ADV. SRI.PEEYUS A.KOTTAM RESPONDENTS: ---------------------- 1. KEERAMPARA SERVICE COOPERATIVE BANK LTD NO.E-214,KEERAMPARA P.O., KOTHAMANGALAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. THE JOINT REGISTRAR OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES (GENERAL),ERNAKULAM,COCHIN-682016. 3. THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES (GENERAL), KOTHAMANGALAM. 4. NABARD, KERALA REGIONAL OFFICE, PUNNAN ROAD, PB NO.5613,TRIVANDRUM -695039, REPRESENTED BY ITS ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER. R2 & R3 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.K.C.SANTHOSH KUMAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09/02/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: K. SURENDRA MOHAN, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W. P.(C) No. 2856 OF 2010 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 9th day of February, 2010 JUDGMENT The petitioner and his two sons had availed of agricultural loans from the 1st respondent Bank. However, the loan amounts have not been repaid. According to the petitioner, it was due to the failure of crops that they were not able to repay the amounts. Therefore, the petitioner and his sons approached the 1st respondent seeking the benefit of the scheme(Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme, 2008) introduced by the Central Government for ameliorating the conditions of agriculturists like the petitioner. The complaint of the petitioner is that the Bank has not given him and his sons the benefit of the Scheme. 2. What the Bank has done is to renew the loans of the petitioner and his sons without their consent. Thereafter they are informed that their loans are not in default. According to the petitioner, the Bank has no authority to renew the loans of the petitioner and his sons without their consent. They also contend that the Bank had renewed the loan account only to deny them the WP(C) No.2856 of 2010 -:2:- benefits of the Scheme introduced by the Central Government. 3. The Agricultural Debt waiver and Debt Relief Scheme, 2008 introduced by the Central Government is a beneficial measure for helping the agriculturists who are suffering due to failure of crops and various other circumstances. For redressal of the grievances of agriculturists like the petitioner who complain that the benefits of the Scheme have been denied to them, the Scheme stipulates the appointment of a Grievance Redressal Officer. If the petitioner has been denied the benefits of the Scheme introduced by the Central Government, the petitioner can approach the Grievance Redressal Officer. The Grievance Redressal Officer has the authority to redress the grievances of the petitioner. 4. In the above circumstances, this Writ Petition is disposed of directing the petitioner to submit his grievances before the Grievance Redressal Officer, who shall on receipt of the same consider the grievances of the petitioner and his sons and grant necessary reliefs. If the Grievance Redressal Officer is approached by the petitioner within a period of two weeks from today, the same shall be considered and appropriate orders shall be passed WP(C) No.2856 of 2010 -:3:- thereon, in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of three weeks thereafter. K. SURENDRA MOHAN, JUDGE ttb