2023 (6) TMI 715 - KERALA HIGH COURT

Quantum of final reward payable to the informer / petitioner - prayer to sanction the maximum limit of the final award to the petitioner - HELD THAT:- Supreme Court in UNION OF INDIA VERSUS C. KRISHNA REDDY [2003 (12) TMI 55 - SUPREME COURT] the contentions on behalf of the petitioner cannot be accepted - The Supreme Court, in the said judgment, clearly held that by the very nature of things, no one has a legal right to claim a reward. The scheme itself shows that it is purely an exgratia payment subject to guidelines and may be granted at the absolute discretion of the competent authority, and no one can claim the same as a matter of right. In such circumstances, a writ of mandamus cannot be issued as it applies only in a case where there is a statutory duty imposed upon the officer concerned, and there is a failure on the officer's part to discharge that obligation. In the absence of anything showing a statutory requirement that imposes a legal duty, the writ compelling the authorities to do something cannot be issued.

In the absence of any material to show the entitlement of the petitioner to more than what was already paid to him, the writ petition should necessarily fail, and accordingly, the same is dismissed.