IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN FRIDAY, THE 27TH MARCH 2009 / 6TH CHAITHRA 1931 WP(C).No. 8980 of 2009(N) ------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- C.NEELAKANTAN KARTHA S/O. NARAYANAN KARTHA, AGED 56 YEARS, VII/263-A, 'NARAYANEEYAM', CHERANELLORE, COCHIN-682 034. BY ADV. SRI.R.MURALIDHARAN (AROOR) RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, COLLECTORATE, ERNAKULAM. 3. THE SPECIAL TAHSILDAR, INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER TRANSSHIPMENT TERMINAL, VALLARPADAM, ELOOR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.M.P.SREEKRISHNAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 27/03/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.SIRI JAGAN, J. ================== W.P(C).No.8980 of 2009 ================== Dated this the 27th day of March, 2009 J U D G M E N T Certain properties belonging to the petitioner have been acquired under the Land Acquisition Act. Dissatisfied with the compensation awarded, the petitioner is stated to have filed an application under Section 18 of the Act seeking reference of the matter to the Court. The petitioner's grievance is that the same has not been considered yet. The petitioner is seeking the following reliefs in this writ petition: “(a). issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, directing the 2nd respondent and 3rd respondent to refer the dispute of the petitioner regarding the inadequacy of compensation for the property acquired from the petitioner, forthwith to the appropriate civil court for adjudication as provided under law; (b) to pass such other orders or directions this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper on the facts and circumstances of the case.” 2. The learned Government Pleader, on instructions, submits that Section 18 application was not submitted before the Land Acquisition Officer, but only before the District Collector. I am not satisfied that that is a reason for not considering the application under Section 18. In the above circumstances, I dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the competent among the respondents to consider and pass orders on Ext.P5, which is the application under Section 18 stated to have been filed by the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. Sd/- sdk+ S.SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE ///True copy/// P.A. to Judge w.p.c.8980/09 2