IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC MONDAY, THE 4TH APRIL 2011 / 14TH CHAITHRA 1933 WP(C).No. 10649 of 2011(E) --------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- LIYAKATH ALI. A., HOUSE NO.33/506 K 1, AQUA GARDENS, VENNALA. P.O., KOCHI-682 028. BY ADV. SRI.M.MOHAMED NAVAZ, SRI.T.P.SAJAN. RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------- 1. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, COLLECTORATE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695 005. 2. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, SOUTHERN RANGE, NANDAVANAM, TRIVANDRUM, NANDAVANAM.P.O., PIN-695 033. 3. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, ATTINGAL, ATTINGAL. P.O., PIN-695 101. 4. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, POLICE STATION, KADINAMKULAM. P.O., PIN-695 303. 5. THE DIRECTOR, DIRECTORATE OF MINING AND GEOLOGY, KESAVADASAPURAM, PATTOM PALACE.P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695 004. 6. CHIRAYINKEEZH GRAMA PANCHAYATH, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, CHIRAYINKEEZH.P.O., PIN-695 304. R1 TO R5 BY GOVT. PLEADER MR.P. NARAYANAN. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 04/04/2011,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: rs ANTONY DOMINIC, J. ================ W.P.(C) NO. 10649 OF 2011 ===================== Dated this the 4th day of April, 2011 J U D G M E N T Petitioner has filed this writ petition mainly alleging of unauthorised sand mining in a place called Muthalapozhy, which is also known as Thazhvilakom. According to the petitioner, indiscriminate sand mining is going on in that area in violation of the provisions contained in Kerala Protection of River Banks and Regulation of Removal of Sand Act, 2001. It is his case that though he made various representations including Ext.P1 to the District Collector, Exts.P 2 and P3 to the Inspector General of Police, Ext.P4 before the Deputy Superintendent of Police and Ext.P5 before the Director of Mining and Geology, there has not been any action on these representations and therefore he has approached this Court by filing this writ petition with the following prayer. (ii) to issue a writ of mandamus commanding the District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram and District Police Superintendent to effectively monitor the Police and Revenue Official employed for detection of illegal sand mining, transportation etc., and to effectively prevent the illegal sand mining through unauthorised means by taking into custody country boats and to confiscate the same and also to arrest all the offenders including persons WPC No. 10649/11 :2 : indulging in the activity of illegal sand mining. 2. Going by the provisions of the Kerala Protection of River Banks and Regulation of Removal of Sand Act, 2001, it is the District Collector, who is the competent authority to deal with the complaint of this nature. 3. Therefore, I dispose of this writ petition directing that, on the production of a copy of this judgment along with a copy of this writ petition, the 1st respondent shall examine the grievance of the petitioner and take appropriate action in the matter. Petitioner may produce a copy of this judgment along with a copy of this writ petition before the 1st respondent, who shall take appropriate action in the matter. ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE Rp