IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.SURENDRA MOHAN TUESDAY, THE 9TH MARCH 2010 / 18TH PHALGUNA 1931 WP(C).No. 7582 of 2010(W) ---------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- JOY THOMAS, PARAMBAKATH (H), LAKKATTOR (PO), KOTTAYAM. BY ADVS. SMT.BINDU SREEKUMAR, SMT.V.AKHILA. RESPONDENT(S): --------------------------- 1. THE JOINT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (GENERAL), KOTTAYAM. 2. THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, KOTTAYAM. 3. THE SECRETARY, KOOROPPADA SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK, LAKKATTOR (PO), KOTTAYAM. R1 & R2 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER MR. K.C.SANTHOSH KUMAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09/03/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Kss K.SURENDRA MOHAN, J. ------------------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.7582 of 2010 ------------------------------------------- Dated this the 9th day of March, 2010 JUDGMENT The petitioner is an agriculturist in Kottayam District, owning an extent of 1 acre 97.5 cents of land. He has cultivated the land with plantains, tapioca, vegetables, ginger etc. The petitioner had availed an agricultural loan of Rs.2 lakhs in the year 2005 from the second respondent bank. The loan was availed under the head of 'Kisan Credit Card'. As security for the loan, the petitioner had mortgaged an extent of 75 cents of his property. However, the petitioner was not able to repay the loan amount, which is remaining in default. 2. Meanwhile, the Central Government has introduced Ext.P2 scheme as per the provisions of which, the petitioner is entitled to various concessions, he being an agriculturist. The petitioner applied for the grant of concessions under the said scheme. But, he complains that only a part of the debt has been waived. The petitioner claims that he is entitled to a waiver of the wpc No.7582/2010 2 entire amount that is due and payable by him. Therefore, he seeks appropriate directions in this regard. As per clause-10.2 of Ext.P2 scheme, every bank has to designate the Grievances Redressal Officer. As per clause-10.3, the said Grievance Redressal Officer is empowered to decide the question relating to the implementation of Ext.P2 scheme. The contention of the petitioner being that, the benefits of the scheme has not been made available to him fully, the same is a matter that falls exclusively within the scope of Clause-10.3 of Ext.P2. Since the Grievances Redressel Officer is authorised to decide the grievances of the petitioner and to make available the benefits of Ext.P2 scheme, it is sufficient that the petitioner is relegated to the said remedy. 3. In view of the above, this Writ Petition is disposed of directing the petitioner to submit his grievances before the Grievances Redressal Officer under Ext.P2. The petitioner shall submit a proper petition to the said Authority within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. If such a petition is received, the Grievances Redressel Officer shall consider wpc No.7582/2010 3 the same in accordance with law and shall pass appropriate orders thereon expeditiously. Until final orders are passed by the Grievances Redressal Officer on the petition to be filed by the petitioner in accordance with the above direction, all coercive steps to recover the amounts due from the petitioner shall be kept in abeyance. If the petitioner does not submit a petition to the Grievances Redressal Officer within the time stipulated above, the petitioner will not be entitled to the benefit of the above directions. K.SURENDRA MOHAN, JUDGE css/