Rabinarayan Sahoo vs Secretary Ministry Of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. Of India And Another

Arindam Sinha, J

Mr. Sahoo, learned advocate appears on behalf of petitioner and had on 22nd February, 2022 submitted that his client is a Non-Government Organisation (NGO). It received grant-in-aid from Central Government.. He draws attention to letter dated 23rd April, 2012, addressed to Collector and District Magistrate, Jajpur. He submits, 60% of the grant was disbursed but balance is yet to be disbursed. His client has completed the project and hence, there be direction for disbursement of the balance.

Mr. Das, learned advocate, Central Government Counsel appears on behalf of Union of India and submits, his client has filed additional affidavit. Inter alia, there is disclosure of record of extract from the file to show that the scheme was discontinued from the financial year 2013-14 vide letter dated 6th January, 2014. Mr. Sahoo in reply, draws attention to annexure-4 being letter dated 17th January, 2013 written by Collector and District Magistrate, Jajpur. Text of the letter is reproduced below.

“Enclosed, please find herewith the Track Records of the NGO, “Gangotree”, Plot No.1325/3037, KB Lane, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, in the State of Odisha for deciding future issues. The NGO has implemented the IEC Programmes successfully.

The Ministry may release balance amount of the Grant-in-Aid sanctioned in favour of the Executing NGO viz. Gangotree for settlement of liabilities.”

Relied upon extract from the file contains, inter alia, submission under paragraph-6, as submitted on 7th December, 2017 under annexure-C, reproduced below.

“6. This Ministry with the approval of JS(RCH) has constituted a committee to evaluate the progress reports both physical and financial, submitted by NGOs and give recommendations w.r.t. release of funds to NGO and further course of action, accordingly.”

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Union of India is directed to deal with petitioner’s claim for disbursement of the balance on having completed the project, as appearing from said letter dated 17th January, 2013 written by the Collector (annexure-4 at page 22). Either the disbursement is to be made or reasons for rejection of the claim be made known to petitioner within six weeks of communication.

The writ petition is disposed of.

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