IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC FRIDAY, THE 15TH FEBRUARY 2008 / 26TH MAGHA 1929 WP(C).No. 5570 of 2008(K) ------------------------- PETITIONERS: ------------ 1. MR.BOJAN,S/O.MR.KADA GOWDER KETCHIKATTI, KEELKUNTHA-2,NEELGIRI DISTRICT TAMILNADU, PIN 643 219. 2. MRS. RANI, D/O. MR.KADA GOWDER KETCHIKATTI, KEELKUNTHA-2,NEELGIRI DISTRICT TAMILNADU, PIN 643 219. 3. MRS.KAMALA,D/O. MR.KADA GOWDER KETCHIKATTI, KEELKUNTHA-2,NEELGIRI DISTRICT TAMILNADU, PIN 643 219. 4. MRS. LAKSHMI, D/O. MR.KADA GOWDER KETCHIKATTI, KEELKUNTHA-2,NEELGIRI DISTRICT TAMILNADU, PIN 643 219. 5. MR.SUNDARRAJAN, S/O.MR.KADA GOWDER KETCHIKATTI, KEELKUNTHA-2,NEELGIRI DISTRICT TAMILNADU, PIN 643 219. 6. MR.SIVARAMAN,S/O.MR.KADA GOWDER KETCHIKATTI, KEELKUNTHA-2,NEELGIRI DISTRICT TAMILNADU, PIN 643 219. 7. MRS.CHANDRAMATHI,D/O.MR.KADA GOWDER KETCHIKATTI, KEELKUNTHA-2,NEELGIRI DISTRICT TAMILNADU, PIN 643 219. 8. MR.RAVI,S/O.KADA GOWDER KETCHIKATTI, KEELKUNTHA-2,NEELGIRI DISTRICT TAMILNADU, PIN 643 219. 9. MRS. SHEELA,D/O.MR.KADA GOWDER KETCHIKATTI, KEELKUNTHA-2,NEELGIRI DISTRICT TAMILNADU, PIN 643 219. 10. J.RAJU, EX-GOVERNMENT TEACHER KOTHIBIN VILLAGE, BENGALMATTAM POST THE NILGIRIS. BY ADV. SMT.SREEKALA KRISHNADAS SRI.M.S.SARUN KUMAR WP.(C) 5570/08 -2- RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO STATE FOREST DEPARTMENT THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE PRINCIPAL CHEIF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. (CHAIRMAN, ADVISORY COMMITTEE) 3. THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER MANNARKAD. 4. THE RANGE OFFICER, ATTAPADI. 5. THE TAHSILDAR, MANNARKAD TALUK. 6. THE VILLAGE OFFICER, PUDUR. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI RANJITH THAMPAN. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 15/02/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ANTONY DOMINIC, J. ------------------------------------ W.P.(C) 5570 of 2008 ------------------------------------- Dated: February 15, 2008 JUDGMENT The challenge in this writ petition is against the notification issued declaring the petitioner's property as an ecologically fragile land in terms of the Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Ordinance 2000. Subsequently the Ordinance has been replaced by Act 21/2003 and it provides for the constitution of a Tribunal in terms of sec.9 thereof for settlement of disputes. 2. In my view, if the petitioner is aggrieved by the notification referred to above, the remedy open to the petitioner is to seek settlement of the dispute before the Tribunal. With the above observation this writ petition is dismissed. ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE mt/-