IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) TUESDAY, THE TWELFTH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 15581 of 2008 Between: Smt.Dummu Appayyamma W/o.Late Ramulu R/o.D.No.20-28-9, Peindorapeta, Visakhapatnam. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Union of India, Ministry of Surface Transport (Ports Wing), Rep. by its Secretary,Government of India, New Delhi. 2 The Chairman, Dock Labour Board, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Visakhapatnam. 3 The Deputy Chairman, Dock Labour Board, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Visakhapatnam. 4 The Administrative Officer, Dock Labour Board, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Visakhapatnam. 5 The Personnel Officer, Dock Labour Board, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Visakhapatnam. .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to issue appropriate writ or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus declaring the inaction of the 3rd Respondent in not disbursing the arrears of Widow Exgratia Pension and in not regularly paying the Widow Exgratia Pension to the petitioner as illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional, in violation of Article 14 and against principles of natural justice and consequently direct the respondents to disburse the Widow Exgratia Pension regularly to the petitioner herein from this month and to pass such order or orders. Counsel for the Petitioner:MR.T.M.K.CHAITANYA Counsel for Respondent No.1.: MR.A.RAJASHEKAR REDDY (ASST SOLICITOR GEN) Counsel for Respondent Nos. 2 to 5: P. SRI RAGHURAM The Court made the following : ORDER The petitioner claims that she is the wife of late Dummu Ramulu, who was an employee in Dock Labour Board, Visakhapatnam Port Trust. On a representation made by the petitioner that the employee died on 12.03.1985, she was sanctioned widow pension with effect from 01.01.1986. However, it was stopped that in the year 1998, on the allegation that the records were fabricated, the petitioner and 98 others were tried for various offences by the Court of VII Metropolitan Magistrate, Visakhapatnam in C.C.No.197 of 1998. The trial Court rendered its judgment on 16.08.2001 acquitting the petitioner. Thereafter, she made a representation on 11.08.2003 to the respondents with a prayer to sanction the pension. The fourth respondent addressed a letter, dated 26.08.2003, directing the petitioner to produce various documents on or before 03.09.2003. Petitioner claims to have complied with the same. She states that when nothing was forthcoming, she made a representation on 14.02.2008 and submits that no action has been taken thereof. Hence, the writ petition. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the respondents. The circumstances, under which, the petitioner was sanctioned the pension and stopped thereafter, are not immediately before this Court. On being acquitted in C.C.No.197 of 1998, the petitioner made an application and the same was responded to, vide letter, dated 26.08.2003, addressed by the fourth respondent. Once the petitioner had approached the respondents with necessary application, they are under obligation to process the same and pass appropriate orders. The petitioner is an old woman and the matter cannot brook any further delay. The Writ Petition is disposed of, directing the fourth respondent to pass appropriate orders on the application, dated 14.02.2008, submitted by the petitioner, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No order as to costs. ______________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J Dated:12.08.2008 sj ..... REGISTRAR // TRUE COPY // SECTION OFFICER To 1 The Secretary, Union of India, Ministry of Surface Transport (Ports Wing), Government of India, New Delhi. 2 The Chairman, Dock Labour Board, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Visakhapatnam. 3 The Deputy Chairman, Dock Labour Board, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Visakhapatnam. 4 The Administrative Officer, Dock Labour Board, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Visakhapatnam. 5 The Personnel Officer, Dock Labour Board, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, Visakhapatnam. 6. 2CCs to the Assistant Solicitor General, High Court Building, Hyderabad. (OUT) 7.2CD copies Form-NIC-OGS/WP{KURR}