Hyderabad: Just how unresponsive government bodies can be, forcing citizens to move the high court, is evident in the case of Shaik Jamsheed Peer of Chittoor district. He has moved court seeking correction in the date of birth entered in his passport.
He had applied online a year ago for correction. The regional passport office did not take action, he had no forum to redress his grievance except moving court.
Dr K. Jyothi Prasad moved the Hyderabad high court challenging the inaction of the GHMC in preventing alleged illegal constructions at the Film Nagar Cultural Centre before the collapse of an under construction portico last month.
If government officers having appellate powers settle matters against orders passed by subordinate officers on individual grievances, it would reduce the burden of the high court and also reduce the financial burden on individuals.
According to lawyers, people move the high court by invoking the writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution only after the appellate authority in revenue and tax departments of the state and the Centre confirms orders passed by their subordinates.
Former special government pleader N. Sreedhar Reddy said the appellate authority depended on subordinates for facts of the case. If the subordinate officer provides distorted facts, the authority has to confirm the order of the subordinate.
A. Santosh Kumar, an advocate in the high court, said there were cases where several individuals moved the court after authorities refused to issue a passport based on the entry made by the inquiry officer that the applicant was not available at the residential address given in the application when the officer went for verification.
