IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.S.GOPINATHAN FRIDAY, THE 6TH AUGUST 2010 / 15TH SRAVANA 1932 WA.No. 198 of 2010() -------------------- AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT IN OP.27937/2001 Dated 07/09/2009 .................... APPELLANT/PETITIONER:- ------------------------------------ FORUM FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, P.O.KALAVOOR, ALAPPEY, PIN-688522,REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL SECRETARY, KALAVOOR JOHNSON, RESIDING AT PANACHICKAL HOUSE, P.O.KALAVOOR, ALAPPEY DISTRICT, PIN-688522. BY ADV. SRI.R.SURENDRAN RESPONDENT(S): RESPONDENTS:- ----------------------------------------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, LAW DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVNANTHAPURAM. 3. THE KERALA STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY, RAM MOHAM PALACE, OLD HIGH COURT BUILDING, ERNAKULAM REPRESENTED BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY. SR.GOVT.PLEADER SRI.R.LAKSHMINARAYANAN, FOR R1 & R2 ADV.SRI.P.K.IBAHIM, FOR R3. THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 02/08/2010, THE COURT ON 06/08/2010 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR & P.S.GOPINATHAN, JJ. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Writ Appeal No.198 of 2010. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Dated this the 6th day of August, 2010. J U D G M E N T Gopinathan, J. The appellant, the petitioner in OP.No.27937/2001, is a voluntary organization engaged in conducting legal aid clinics, camps and neethimelas. The first respondent State had earlier given recognition to the appellant. By Ext.P13 dated 24.11.2000 the recognition was withdrawn without prejudice to the accreditation, if any, obtained from the Kerala State Legal Services Authority and without prejudice the right to move the Kerala State Legal Services Authority for accreditation. As against Ext.P13, Ext.P14 representation was filed. By Ext.P15 dated 22.1.2001, Ext.P14 was forwarded to the Kerala State Legal Services Authority for appropriate further action. Again Ext.P16 representation was made. That was rejected by Exts.P17 WA.No.198/2010. -: 2 :- and P18. Assailing Exts.P13, P15, P17 and P18 the writ petition was filed. The learned single Judge dismissed the petition on arriving at a finding that after the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act, statutory authorities had been functioning under the said Act and that in the circumstance the appellant cannot be any more recognized for pursuing parallel activities. Consequently, the writ petition was dismissed. Now this appeal. 2. Having heard the learned counsel for the appellant, the Government Pleader representing respondents 1 and 2 and the learned counsel for the 3rd respondent, we find that the Kerala State Legal Services Authority, the District Legal Services Authorities, the High Court Legal Services Committee and the Taluk Legal Services Committees are very effectively functioning even upto Taluk level in the State and conducting legal aid clinics, camps and neethimelas, which the appellant was doing before the enactment of Legal Services Authorities WA.No.198/2010. -: 3 :- Act, 1987. In the changed scenario, the first respondent was justified in withdrawing the recognition. The appeal is devoid of merits. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed with liberty to the appellant to approach the State Legal Services Authority for accreditation. No order as to costs. C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, (Judge) P.S.GOPINATHAN, (Judge) Kvs/-