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2015 DIGILAW 2224 (MAD)

S. M. Anantha Murugan v. Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs

2015-06-12

S.MANIKUMAR, SANJAY KISHAN KAUL

body2015
JUDGMENT S. MANIKUMAR, J. 1. A practising lawyer of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, has sought for a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block, Central Secretariat, New Delhi-110001 and Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhavan, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi 110011, respondents 1 and 2 respectively, to consider his representation dated 14.07.2010. 2. Mr. W. Peter Ramesh Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the petitioner purchased 24 bottles of 200 ML Slice cool drink from M/s. Star Agency, 84/2, Meera Husain Street, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, the 6th respondent herein. After drinking 12 bottles, he found a Cockroach in an unopened 200 ML bottle of Slicev, cool drink. According to him, thousands of people blindly consume the said soft drink, manufactured and sold by M/s. Aradhana Food and Juices (P) Limited., NH-9, Mumbai Highway, Pothireddypally Village, Sangareddy, Medak District, Andhara Pradesh-502 295, respondent No.5 herein. 3. It is the further submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner, that though respondent No.5, is advertising that its products have international quality, and would not cause any harm to the consumers, the product sold was adulterous and spurious. Therefore, the petitioner made a representation dated 14.07.2010, to the respondents 1 to 4, to ban sale of ''Slicev cool drink, in the State of Tamil Nadu and to order, forfeiture of the abovesaid soft drink, kept for sale, in the shops all over Tamil Nadu. As the representation remained unanswered, Writ of Mandamus is sought for. 4. Opposing the said relief, Mr. G.R. Swaminathan, learned Assistant Solicitor General of India, submitted that such a representation seeking for a direction against the Home Secretary, Ministry of Home, Government of New Delhi, cannot be entertained. He further contended that, in many writ petitions, the Home Secretary, Government of India, New Delhi, is unnecessarily impleaded as a party respondent. He also submitted that if at all the petitioner, was aggrieved over the presence of any insect in the bottle, purchased by him, representation to ban the sale of the abovesaid soft drink, cannot be entertained. 5. Mr. He also submitted that if at all the petitioner, was aggrieved over the presence of any insect in the bottle, purchased by him, representation to ban the sale of the abovesaid soft drink, cannot be entertained. 5. Mr. C. Muthusaravanan, learned counsel for M/s. Aradhana Food and Juices (P) Limited., NH-9, Mumbai Highway, Pothireddypally Village, Sangareddy, Medak District, Andhara Pradesh-502 295, the 5th respondent herein, submitted that it is always open to the writ petitioner, to approach the Consumer Redressal Forum, if the petitioner was aggrieved. 6. At this juncture, Mr. W. Peter Ramesh Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner, submitted that a Consumer Petition No.32/2012 was also filed before the District Consumer Redressal Forum, Virudhunagar District, Srivilliputhur, and after adjudication, vide order, dated 19.09.2014, the Forum, has directed a sum of Rs.195/- being the sale price of 200 ML Slice soft drink, to be returned and for the mental agony and litigation expenses, a sum of Rs.10,000/- and Rs.2,000/- respectively, were awarded. Heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the materials available on record. 7. As rightly pointed out by Mr. G.R. Swaminathan, learned Assistant Solicitor General of India, inclusion of the Home Secretary, Government of India, New Delhi, as one of the respondents, to this writ petition, filed for a Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 4, to consider the representation dated 14.07.2010, is unnecessary. In the representation dated 14.07.2010, the petitioner has prayed to declare the soft drink, ''Slicev, as intoxicating drink and not fit for human consumption and consequently to close down the manufacturing unit of the Soft drink, Viz., Slice, at M/s.Aradhana Food and Juices (P) Limited., NH-9, Mumbai Highway, Pothireddypally Village, Sangareddy, Medak District, Andhara Pradesh-502 295, respondent No.5. 8. Though the petitioner has contended that the abovesaid soft drink contains spurious, adulterous and intoxicating materials, there is no substantive proof. 9. Reading of the order made in Consumer Petition No. 32/2012, dated 19.09.2014, on the file of the District Consumer Redressal Forum, Virudhunagar District, Srivilliputhur, shows that the Proprietor, M/s. Star Agency, 84/2, Meera Husain Street, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, and General Manager, M/s. Aradhana Food and Juices (P) Limited., NH-9, Mumbai Highway, Pothireddypally Village, Sangareddy, Medak District, Andhara Pradesh-502295, have been made as opposite parties. Though the 5th respondent herein has been served, there was no appearance, either in person or through pleader and hence, he has been set ex parte. Though the 5th respondent herein has been served, there was no appearance, either in person or through pleader and hence, he has been set ex parte. 10. Though the petitioner was given an opportunity, for the second time, to take steps to serve on the 6th respondent, it was not done. Therefore, as against the Proprietor, M/s. Star Agency, 84/2, Meera Husain Street, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, Consumer Petition has been dismissed. In the absence of any opposition and finding that there was deficiency in service, vide order, dated 19.09.2014 in Consumer Petition No. 32/2012, the District Consumer Redressal Forum, Virudhunagar District, Srivilliputhur, has awarded compensation, as stated supra. 11. There are absolutely no materials to hold that soft drink Viz., Slice, is spurious and intoxicated. Grievance of the petitioner for deficiency of service, has been vindicated by the District Consumer Redressal Forum. On the facts and circumstances of the case and the material on record, the relief sought for by the petitioner cannot be granted. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, M.P (MD) Nos. 1 to 3 of 2010 are closed.