-1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION SUO MOTU WRIT PETITION NO. 5 OF 2005 High Court on its own motion ..Petitioner Versus Union of India and anr. ... Respondents. Mr. B.A. Desai, Additional Solicitor General, for Union of India. Mr. Ravi Kadam, Advocate General, with Mr.R.M. Sawant, Government Pleader, for the State. CORAM: DALVEER BHANDARI, C.J. & S.J. VAZIFDAR, J. DATE: AUGUST 17, 2005. P.C. 1. In this suo motu petition, notice was issued to the Union of India and the State of Maharashtra. This petition pertains to a relief package consisting of life saving and other drugs such as anti- diarrhoea tablets, antibiotics and water purification packets worth about $ 15 million sent by a U.S. Organization to help those reeling under an epidemic because of recent deluge in Mumbai, which was received at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Cargo Section in Mumbai was not being released. 2. On 14th and 16th August, 2005, news items appeared in the -2- English edition of The Times of India, Mumbai Edition giving details of life-saving drugs and medical equipments, which were not being cleared by the Customs Authorities. It is submitted by the Counsel that these life saving drugs and medicines were very urgently needed for the flood affected people. 3. Pursuant to the notice issued by this Court, Mr. B.A. Desai, learned Additional Solicitor-General, appeared for the Union of India and Mr. Ravi Kadam, Advocate General, appeared for the State of Maharashtra. They prayed for a short adjournment to take instructions. The learned Solicitor General and the learned Advocate General submit that after the initiation of this suo motu petition by this Court, the consignments containing the aforementioned drugs and medical equipments have been cleared by the Customs Authorities. In view of this development, no further directions are necessary. This petition is accordingly disposed of. 4. We would like to place on record our appreciation for the sincere efforts made by the learned Solicitor General and the learned Advocate General in getting the consignments released expeditiously for the flood suffering masses. CHIEF JUSTICE -3- S.J. VAZIFDAR, J.