VEMA CHINA KOTESWARA RAO v. DISTRICT COLLECTOR AND ORS.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

D MARKANDEY KATJU, J. I. Leave granted.

2Copy pinpoint2. This appeal has been filed against the impugned judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court dated 28.2.2005 in Writ Petition No. 282 of2005.

3Copy pinpoint3. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. E

4Copy pinpoint4. The judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court was delivered on a writ petition filed as a 'Public Interest Litigation' to declare the action of the respondent in permitting the third respondent to construct and install the statue of his father, an Ex. MLA, as arbitrary and illegal being contrary to GOMs No.393 dated 13.6.2000. ' F

5Copy pinpoint5. A counter affidavit had been filed in the writ petition in which it was stated that the respondents have followed the rules contained in GOMs No.55, Transport, R&B, (R-1) Department, dated 8.4.2003 which superceded GOMs No.393 dated 13.6.2000. ·

6Copy pinpoint6. The Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed the writ petition in view of the GOMs No.55, Transport, R&B, (R-1) Department, dated 8.4.2003.

7Copy pinpoint7. We have perused the GOMs No.55, Transport, R&B, (R-1) Department, dated 8.4.2003. Clause No.4 of the same states :

H "4. If statues/monuments are unavoidable on roads, they should

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,,, be located only on large traffic islands, public gardens, parks, premises A --1 of Government buildings, town halls or places of public importance. In case, any approval of Government is required, recommendation by a Statue Committee headed by the District Collector and comprising Superintendent of Police, Superintendent Engineers (R&B), Chainnan/ CEO, Local Municipal Body, Superintending Engineers (PR), Superintending Engineer (AP Transco) and the concerned Executive B Engineer (R&B) is mandatory. This Committee which may also draft if necessary representatives ofother Departments, should examine all 'I aspects before making any recommendation including possibility of proposed statues obstructing the flow of traffic, future expansion of roads and the design of the roads, the water supply and sewerage c pipe lines, electrical and telephone wires and cables as well as the local situation. The size of the statue/monument, metal used & the design should also be considered and a site plan shall be prepared and approved by committee before fJrwarding to the Government."

8Copy pinpoint8. It appears that a meeting of the Statue Committee was held in the Collector's chamber, Ongole on 22.11.2004 and we have perused the Minutes of the said meeting. Thereafter another meeting was held in the Collector's chamber, Ongole on 12.12.2004 and we have perused the proceedings of the said meeting also. E

9Copy pinpoint9. In the meeting of the Statue Committee the Members agreed on erection of the statue oflate Verna Yellaiah, Ex. MLA and Ex. Chairman, S.C. Corporation within the Manda! Complex site at Chimakurthy.

I0. In our opinion the said decision was in accordance with the Clause 4 ofGOMs No.55, Transport, R&B, (R-1) Department, dated 8.4.2003. Hence F .. we cannot interfere. It is well settled that there must be judicial restraint regarding administrative decisions vide Tata Cellular v. Union of India, AIR (1996) SC 11.

11Copy pinpoint11. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that GOMs No.55, G Transport, R&B, (R-1) Department, dated 8.4.2003 doest not authorize individuals to erect a statue on Government premises but it contemplates .... permission only for organizations. We cannot accept this submission. It may be noted that GOMs No.55, Transport, R&B, (R-1) Department, dated 8.4.2003 refers to organizations only in para 5 of the said GOMs which states : H

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A "The concerned organization who wants to install/erect the statue/ "' monuments should procure land on payment of compensation to the i---

concerned land owners/concerned department. as the case may."

12Copy pinpoint12. A comparison of para 4 and para 5 ofGOMs No.55, Transport, R&B, (R-1) Department, dated 8.4.2003 shows the difference between the two. Para B 5 deals with land belonging to private persons on which the statue is proposed to be erected. Para 5 has nothing to do with land belonging to the Government, in which case para 4 applies. Hence so far as land belonging to the Government is concerned the setting up of a statue thereon is not restricted to organizations, and permission for doing so can even be granted to individuals provided it " ~ is recommended by the Statue Committee contemplated by para 4. There is c no dispute that the Statue Committee has made the recommendation in this case.

13Copy pinpoint13. As regards the constitutional validity of GOMs No.55, Transport, R&B, (R-1) Department, dated 8.4.2003 the same has not been challenged D before us anp hence we are leaving this question open.

14Copy pinpoint14. For the reasons given above this appeal is dismissed.

K.K.T. Appeal dismissed. '