IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI MONDAY, THE 3RD NOVEMBER 2008 / 12TH KARTHIKA 1930 WP(C).No. 29575 of 2008(U) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- THE LIC HOUSING SCHEME ALLOTTEES ASSOCIATION,"PRATHEEKSHA"KRA-A5(A)KURAVANKONAM, KOWDIAR P.O.THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695003,REPRESENTED BYITS GENERAL SECRETARY, P.T.SURESHKUMAR, S/O.N.K.K.NAMBIAR, RESIDING AT RADHA VIHAR, ANIYAN LANE, AMBALAM JUNCTION,KOWDIAR P.O. BY ADV. SRI.P.GOPINATH RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN, LOGAKZHEMA JEEVA BIMA MARG, P.B.NO.19953, MUMBAI-400021. 2. THE DEPUTY CHIEF ENGINEER, LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA, DIVISIONAL OFFICE BUILDING, JEEVAN PRAKASH, PATTOM P.O. P.B.NO.1001, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695004 3. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INIDA, DIVISIONAL OFFICE BUILDING, JEEVAN PRAKASH, PATTOM P.O., P.B.NO.1001, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695004 ADV. SRI.S.EASWARAN FOR R1 TO 3 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03/11/2008,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: V.GIRI, J ------------------- W.P.(C).29575/2008 -------------------- Dated this the 3rd day of November, 2008 JUDGMENT LIC Housing Scheme Allottees Association is the petitioner in this writ petition. The members of the Association were allotted apartments following rules of allotment set out in Ext.P1. Petitioner-Association is aggrieved that in spite of steps having been taken pursuant to the allotment, ultimately respondents took a decision to cancel the project before the construction was made. They have brought their grievance to the notice of the Chairman of the LIC vide Ext.P6. 2. I heard Mr.Gopinatha Menon, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.S.Easwaran, learned counsel appearing for the LIC. 3. Mr.Easwaran submits that as there was an unexpected hike in the price of steel and cement, the decision to cancel the project was taken. In my view, W.P.(C).29575/2008 2 since the decision to cancel the project as such is taken, it will be appropriate that the Chairman takes a decision in circumstances where the aspirations of considerable number of people are involved. It will only be appropriate if the Chairman offers a personal hearing to the representative of the petitioner-Association before taking a decision on Ext.P6. 4. In the result, writ petition is disposed of directing the Chairman of the LIC to consider and take a decision on Ext.P6, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Representative of the petitioner-Association shall be afforded a personal hearing as aforementioned. V.GIRI, Judge mrcs