IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KURIAN JOSEPH FRIDAY, THE 7TH MARCH 2008 / 17TH PHALGUNA 1929 OP.No. 4379 of 1999(U) ---------------------- PETITIONER: ----------------- THE PRESIDENT, MANGALPADY GRAMA PANCHAYAT P.O., UPPALA.PIN-671 322. BY ADV. SRI.M.A.MANHU SRI.P.CHANDRASEKHAR SRI.M.A.FAYAZ RESPONDENTS: ---------------------- 1. THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KASARGODE. 3. THE BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, MANJESHWAR. 4. M.ABDUL RAHIMAN, S/O. MOIDEENKUNHI HAJI, MEEPIRI HOUSE, P.O., HEROOR, PRESIDENT, KALPARA KARSHAKA SEVA SAMITHY, MANGALPADY. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER, SMT.K.R.DEEPA SRI.K.BALAKRISHNAN SMT.I.SHEELA DEVI THIS ORIGINAL PETITION HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 07/03/2008, ALONG WITH OP NO. 6257 OF 1999 OP NO. 6258 OF 1999 OP NO. 24585 OF 2000, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: O.P.NO.4379/1999 ORDER ON C.M.P.Nos.7479/1999 IN O.P.No.4379/1999 DISMISSED. 7.3.2008 SD/- KURIAN JOSEPH, JUDGE. APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXTS: EXT.P1: COPY OF THE GOVERNMENT ORDER NO.G.O.(Rt) NO.468/77/AD DT.8.2.77, EXT.P2: COPY OF THE LETTER NO.1369/91A DT.6.8.91 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT TO THE PETITIONER. EXT.P3: COPY OF THE GOVERNMENT ORDER NO. G.O.MS.NO .321/77/AGRI. DT.9.11.1977. EXT.P4: COPY OF THE PETITION DT.20.12.1991 SUBMITTED BY THE FARMERS OF THE AREA BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT. EXT.P5: COPY OF THE ORDER NO.E2.30894/91 DT.11.11.92 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT. EXT.P5(a): COPY OF THE LETTER NO.D.O.No.E2-30894/91 DT.2.11.1992 FROM THE 2ND RESPONDENT TO THE 3RD RESPONDENT. EXT.P6: COPY OF THE BYE-LAW OF THE KALPARA KARSHAKA SEVA SAMITHI. EXT.P7: COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN O.P.15889/92 DT.21.7.1997. EXT.P8: COPY OF THE ORDER NO.RD2-30894/91 DT.10.8.1998 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT. EXT.P9: COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN O.P.17768/98 DT.15.9.1998. EXT.P10: COPY OF THE APPEAL DT.20.9.1998 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT. EXT.P11: COPY THE ORDER NO.G.O.RT.NO.294/99/LAD DT.23.1.99 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT. O.P.NO.4379/1999 EXT.P12: COPY OF THE JOINT PETITION DT.16.3.1998 INFORMED THE 2ND RESPONDENT BY THE FARMERS. RESPONDENTS' EXTS: EXT.R4(a): COPY OF THE ORDER NO.RDF:RD2-30894/91 DT.10.2.1999 ISSUED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KASARGOD. EXT.R4(b): COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS NO.A.1985/95 DT.15.2.1999 ISSUED BY THE BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, MANJESHWAR. EXT.R4(c): COPY OF THE CHARGE ARRANGEMENT DOCUMENT DT.15.2.1999 BY THE PRESIDENT, KALPARA KARSHAKA SEVA SAMITHI. EXT.R4(d): COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF KALPARA KARSHAKA SEVA SAMITHI WITH REGISTRATION S.NO.98/97 DT.23.3.1977. //TRUE COPY// PA TO JUDGE. KURIAN JOSEPH, J. --------------------------------------- O.P. Nos.4379, 6257, 6258 OF 1999 & 24585 OF 2000 --------------------------------------- Dated this the 7th day of March, 2008. J U D G M E N T The issue involved in these cases pertains to the entrustment of Kalpara Lift Irrigation Project to the Kalpara Karshaka Seva Samithi. According to the panchayat and the farmers, the water channel vests in the panchayat under Section 218 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. The Government appears to have taken the stand that the irrigation project does not vest in the panchayat under Section 218. But the contention of the petitioners is that the subject matter is the water channel and not the project. Still further it is contended that the society has become defunct. It is also submitted that the society was entrusted only with the work of construction of the canal and they cannot be entrusted with the duty to distribute water; it is the duty of the panchayat. The impugned order does not reflect consideration of these vital contentions. I quash the impugned orders and remit the matters to the Government for fresh consideration with notice to the petitioners in the original petitions and the respondent society. This original petitions are disposed of as above. KURIAN JOSEPH, JUDGE. ps KURIAN JOSEPH, J. O.P. Nos. 4379, 6257, 6258 OF 1999 & 24585 OF 2000 J U D G M E N T 07.03.2008