ALL MANIPUR FERTILIZER DEALERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION Vs. THE STATE OF MANIPUR AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD Shri B.P. Sahu, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Smt. Th. Sobhana Devi, learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents No. 1 to 3 and Sri S. Rupachandra, ASG for the respondent No. 4.

(2.) THE petitioner has filed the above petition praying for grant of Transport subsidy/financial assistance/grant to the members of the Association at par with the institutional dealer headed by the Director of Agriculture, Manipur.

(3.) IN the year 2012, since the State Government stopped granting subsidy/financial assistance to its members, the petitioner's association submitted a representation to the Hon'ble Minister of Agriculture, Manipur followed by another representation dated 06 -08 -2012 to the Hon'ble Chief Minister, Manipur expressing the compulsion in respect of the payment of certain taxes namely Godown tax, Road tax including demands of various militants. Some of the registered and authorized Agents of the Department of Agriculture, Manipur, who are not the members of the petitioner's association are allowed to buy fertilizers at the subsidized/reduced rate fixed by the Government of Manipur. In a meeting held on 21 -12 -2012 at the office of the Addl. Secretary (Agriculture), the petitioner association raised the issue but it was decided that the matter for grant of transport subsidy be considered on the basis of a decision of the Government of India. As the State Government failed to grant transport subsidy/finance assistance to the members of the petitioner's association, the petitioner through its President submitted another representation to the respondents on 27 -02 -2013 highlighting the grievances being faced by the members of the petitioner's association. In a joint meeting held on 18 -03 -2013, the Commissioner (Agr.), Government of Manipur persuaded the representatives of the petitioner's association to purchase fertilizer from the Government buffer stock until the Government of India finalized the freight subsidy of transportation of Urea fertilizer.