IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR THURSDAY, THE 11TH JANUARY 2007 / 21ST PAUSHA 1928 WP(C).No. 1164 of 2007(L) ------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ THOMAS, S/O. ANTONY, AGED 54 YEARS, KUTTIKKAD HOUSE, KAIPPAMANGALAM P.O., KODUNGALLOOR. BY ADV. SRI.DINESH MATHEW J.MURICKEN SRI.P.V.BALAKRISHNAN RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, MALAPPURAM. 3. THE TAHSILDAR, PONNANI. 4. THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, PONNANI POLICE STATION, PONNANI. BY G.P. SRI.I.V.PROMOD THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 11/01/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, J. .................................................................... W.P.(C) No.1164 of 2007 .................................................................... Dated this the 11th day of January, 2007. JUDGMENT The petitioner is challenging Ext.P2 order whereunder the District Collector has levied a fine of Rs.25,000/- on petitioner's vehicle for transport of river sand without any documents. On going through the order, I find no ground to interfere in principle with the findings entered by the Collector. However, since there is no finding that the vehicle is previously involved in any offence, I feel some reduction is called for. In the circumstances, penalty is reduced to rupees twenty thousand. Following similar orders there will be direction to the second respondent to release the lorry with the sand on petitioner remitting another rupees two thousand towards value of sand in addition to payment of fine for the truck which is fixed at Rs.20,000/-. An endorsement will be made in the RC book regarding levy of fine so that for repeated offence, more serious action is taken. W.P. is disposed of as above. C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR Judge pms