IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE SECOND DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND FOUR PRESENT HON'BLE SRI DEVINDER GUPTA, THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE C.V.RAMULU Taken up WRIT PETITION No.15878 of 1992 Between: Mrs. KAPILA HINGORANI E-219, Grater Kailash-I, ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The State of Andhra Pradesh through its Secretary, Department of Social Welfare Hyderabad. 2 The District Magistrate, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh. .....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 Order, direction, or Writ more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus calling for the records and direct the Respondents to take appropriate steps (a) to end the segregation of the residents in the 57 Villages of the District Vizianagaram; (b) to direct the Respondents to take appropriate steps in the matter of affording educational facilities to the Harijan children in the common schools, in the matter of supply of water from the common wells in the villages, and in the matter of entry in places of public places and temples; and (c) to take steps to identify the persons who are liable to be prosecuted under the Untouchability (offences ) Act, 1955. Counsel for the Petitioner : Through LETTER Counsel for the Respondent No.: GP FOR SOCIAL WELFARE The Court made the following : ORDER: (Per Hon’ble the Chief Justice) On the basis of newspaper report, Mrs. Kapila Hingorani approached the Supreme Court and sought directions against respondents to take appropriate steps to end the segregation of residents in 57 villages of Vizianagaram district and to take appropriate steps in the matter of affording educational facilities to the Harijan children in the common schools, in the matter of supply of water from the common wells in the villages and in the matter of entry in public places and temples and also to take appropriate steps to identify the persons liable to be prosecuted under the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955. The petition was sent to this Court for being decided. Till date, no counter- affidavit has been filed. After 12 years of news item being published, it will not be appropriate as of today to call upon the respondents to file the counter-affidavits or adjourn the matter any further. Even passage of time has rendered the petition infructuous. In any case, we dispose of this writ petition with direction that the second respondent will examine the allegations made in the petition as well as in the newspaper cutting as appeared in Indian Express daily in its issue on 04-05-1985. The second respondent will ensure that appropriate instructions are issued in the matter in case the same has not been done so far. Needful be done within a period of three months from the date of receipt of writ order from the Court. Copy of the writ petition and newspaper cutting will also be sent along with copy of the writ order to the second respondent. The writ petition accordingly stands disposed of. ________________________ DEVINDER GUPTA, C.J. ________________ C.V.RAMULU, J 02-08-2004 bsc To 1 The Secretary, Department of Social Welfare State of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad. 2 The District Magistrate, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh (alongwith a copy of the writ petition and newspapers cutting) 3. The Special officer, Public Interest Litigation Cell, High Court building, Hyderabad. 4. The Secretary, A.P. Legal Aid and Advisory Board, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad. 5. The Secretary to Govt. of A.P., Home Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad. 6. 2CCs to Govt. Pleader for Social Welfare, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad (OUT) 7. 2CD copies