IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P. No.21940 of 2010 (PIL) Date of Decision:- 03.03.2011 Zabar, Zulam Virodhi Front Registered, Head Office VPO Todarwal, District Patiala through Iqbal singh, General Secretary Malwa Zone. ....Petitioner(s) vs. State of Punjab and others ....Respondent(s) *** CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RANJAN GOGOI, CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH *** Present:- Mr.Kushaldeep S.Sandhu, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr.J.S.Puri, Additional Advocate General, Punjab. *** Ranjan Gogoi, CJ. (Oral) This PIL has been filed by a voluntary organization seeking appropriate directions from the Court for disbursement of the amounts due under the Aashirwad Scheme (2006-2007) and the Shagun Scheme (2001 to 2003). According to the petitioner, a total of 29313 cases involving release of a sum of ` 4396.95 lacs is pending in respect of the Aashirwad Scheme of the year 2006-2007. Insofar as the Shagun Scheme of the years 2001 to 2003 is concerned, it is stated that 126 cases are pending. The petitioner has also brought on record an earlier order of this Court dated 2.2.2009 passed in CWP No.12851 of 2008 whereby directions have been issued for release of the amount due to eligible applicants under the Aashirwad Scheme within a period of four months. Sh.Puri, learned Additional Advocate General, Punjab, on C.W.P. No.21940 of 2010 (PIL) -2- instructions received, has submitted that insofar as the Aashirwad Scheme of the year 2006-2007 is concerned, a sum of ` 4357.95 lacs has been released for payment and the beneficiaries would be entitled to release of the amounts due under the Scheme. Insofar as the Shagun Scheme is concerned, it is stated by Sh.Puri that the verification process of the eligible applicants is not yet complete and once the same is so complete, disbursements and payments will be made accordingly. The stand of the State as placed before the Court by the learned Additional Advocate General, Punjab, makes it possible for us to pass final orders in the writ petition. As a sum of ` 4357.95 lacs has been released for disbursement to the beneficiaries under the Aashirwad Scheme (2006- 2007), no further orders in this regard will be called for even except that the amounts due, if not already released to the eligible beneficiaries, will be so paid at the earliest. As regards the Shagun Scheme (2001 to 2003) is concerned, we direct the verification process to be completed followed by disbursement and release of payments within a period of three months from today. This disposes of the Public Interest Litigation. ( RANJAN GOGOI ) CHIEF JUSTICE March 03, 2011 ( AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH ) poonam JUDGE