IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALAKRISHNA TAMADA Writ Petition No.2235 of 2000 Dated: 26-09-2007 Between: The Cuddapah District Handloom Weavers Welfare Development Society, rep. by its President Sri K.C. Choudappa. ... Petitioner and 1. The Government of India, rep. by its Secretary, Ministry of Textiles and Handlooms, New Delhi and 3 others. ... Respondents ORDER: Petitioner, which is a Handloom Weavers Welfare Developmental Society, approached this Court and filed the present writ petition seeking mandamus directing the respondent authorities to identify and issue identity cards to all the handloom weavers in the State of Andhra Pradesh and consequently ensure strict implementation of the orders contained in S.O.No.557 (E) dated 26-07- 1996 issued by the Government of India. 2. Various facts mentioned in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition may not be necessary to decide the issue, in the light of the counter affidavit filed on behalf of the respondents 2 and 3. In fact, in the said counter affidavit it is clearly averred that the issue of photo identity cards to the weavers is outside cooperative fold, survey of weavers is in progress and the survey of about 1819 weavers families has been completed and for the remaining weavers survey date is in progress. It is further stated in the counter affidavit that after completion of obtaining of information of weavers outside the cooperative fold, issue of photo identity cards to them will be take up and completed shortly. The said counter affidavit was sworn to by the deponent on 13-02-2001. In the light of the said stand taken by the respondents, this Court is of the view that the said survey must have been over and photo identity cards must have also given by now. 3. For any reason if the issuance of identity cards is to be done on the basis of the survey conducted as averred in the counter affidavit, the photo identity cards shall be given to all the eligible weavers families outside the purview of the weavers cooperative societies, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 4. With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. However, it is made clear that the respondents 2 and 3 shall strictly adhere to the tenor of S.O.No.557 (E) dated 26-07-1996 issued by the Government of India in identifying and issuing photo identity cards. _______________________________ JUSTICE GOPALAKRISHNA TAMADA Dt.26-09-2007 GLV