IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PIUS C.KURIAKOSE & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.K.ABDUL REHIM MONDAY, THE 19TH SEPTEMBER 2011 / 28TH BHADRA 1933 WP(C).No. 23817 of 2011(B) ----------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ------------------------- 1. ALL KERALA LPG DISTRIBUTORS FEDERATION ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT UNIT (KERALA CIRCLE) REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY BINDU SATHEESH, PRAKASINI GAS AGENCIES,NANGIARKULANGARA P.O, ALAPPUZHA. 2. POLO BHARAT GAS AGENCY, KANKALIL BUILDINGS,RAILWAY STATION ROAD, KAYAMKULAM P.O.ALAPPUZHA 690 502. REPRESENTED BY ITS PROPRIETRESS P. MANJU. 3. PARUVELIL GAS SERVICES, ANGADIKAL P.O.,CHENGANNOOR, REPRESENTED BY ITS PROPERTRESS RENU SUSAN THOMAS. 4. PREETHY BHARAT GAS AGENCY, KODAMTHURUTH,KUTHIATHODU P.O., CHERTHALA,ALAPPUZHA 688 533, REPRESENTED BY ITS PROPRIETOR SATHIS BABU. 5. CHERUKARA GAS AGENCY,KOTTAMKULAMGARA, AVALUKUNNU P.O.,ALAPPUZHA 688 006. REPRESENTED BY ITS PROPRIETOR JOGGY JOSEPH. 6. NENCO GAS SERVICES, MANNANCHERRY P.O.,ALAPPUZHA-688 538. REPRESENTED BY ITS PROPERETOR RAJENDRA BABU. 7. BHAGAVATHY GAS,AROOR P.O.,ALAPPUZHA 688 534 REPRESENTED BY ITS PROPRIETRESS VIJAYALEKSHMI AMMA. BY ADV. DR.S.GOPAKUMARAN NAIR, SENIOR ADVOCATE BY ADV. SRI.M.CHANDRA BOSE, SRI.A.RAJASIMHAN. Kss ..2/- ...2.... WPC.NO.23817/2011 B RESPONDENT(S): --------------------------- 1. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, POLICE HEAD QUARTERS,VELLAYAMBALAM P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 001. 2. DISTRICT COLLECTOR, ALAPPUZHA 688 001. 3. DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF, ALAPPUZHA 688 001. 4. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, KAYAMKULAM,ALAPPUZHA 690 502. 5. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, CHENGANOOR,ALAPPUZHA 689 121. 6. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, CHERTHALA,ALAPPUZHA 688 524. 7. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, ALAPPUZHA 688 001. 8. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KAYAMKULAM,ALAPPUZHA 690 502. 9. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CHENGANNOOR,ALAPPUZHA 689 121. 10. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CHERTHALA,ALAPPUZHA 688 524. 11. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, ALAPPUZHA 688 001. 12. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, MARARIKULAM,ALAPPUZHA 688 549. 13. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KUTHIATHODE,ALAPPUZHA 688 533. 14. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE,KAYAMKULAM, ALAPPUZHA 690 502. Kss ..3/- ..3.... WPC.NO.23817/2011 B 15. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CHENGANOOR,ALAPPUZHA 689 121. 16. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KUTHIYATHODU,ALAPPUZHA 688 533. 17. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, ALAPPUZHA NORTH, ALAPPUZHA 688 007. 18. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, MANNANCHERRY,ALAPPUZHA 688 538. 19. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, AROOR,ALAPPUZHA 688 534. 20. HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION, REGIONAL OFFICE (LPG FILLING PLANT) IRUMBANAM,ERNAKULAM 682 309, REPRESENTED BY ITS SENIOR REGIONAL MANAGER 21. INDIAN OIL CORPORATION, AREA OFFICE,PANAMBALLI NAGAR,682 036. REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL MANAGER. 22. BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION, TERRITORY OFFICE AND BOTTLING PLANT, KAZHAKKOOTTAM,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 582, REPRESENTED BY ITS TERRITORY MANAGER. 23. ASHARAF K, DISTRICT SECRETARY,CITU, DELIVERY BOY, CIVIL SUPPLIES GAS AGENCY,KAYAMKULAM P.O 690 502. *ADDL.R24 IMPLEADED: R24. THE ALL KERALA GAS AGENCIES THOZHILALI UNION (CITU), REGISTRATION NO.03-04/05K-1732, DISTRICT COMMITTEE, ALAPPUZHA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. *ADDL.24TH RESPONDENT IS SO-MOTU IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DTD. 1/09/2011 IN WPC. R1 TO R19 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. T.K.VIPINDAS R20 & R22 BY ADV. SRI. E.K.NANDAKUMAR R23 & R24 BY ADV. SRI.C.S.MANU THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 19/09/2011,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Kss WPC.NO.23817/2011 B APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DT.29-07-2011. EXT.P2 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DT.29-07-2011. EXT.P3 TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY DT.9-8-2011. EXT.P4 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DT.10-8-2011. EXT.P5 TRUE COPY OF THE OBJECTION DT.17-08-2011. EXT.P6 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DT.18-8-2011. EXT.P7 TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY DT.NIL. EXT.P8 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DT 19-8-2011. EXT.P9 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DT.19-8-2011. EXT.P10 TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DT.19-08-2011 EXT.P11 TRUE COPY OF THE PETITION DT.29-8-2011 EXT.P12 TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT IN MALAYALA MANORAMA DT.30-8-2011 EXT.P13 TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT IN MATHUBHOOMY DT.30-08-2011. EXT.P14 TRUE COPY OF THE PETITION DT.29-8-2011. EXT.P15 TRUE COPY OF THE PETITION DT.29-8-2011. EXT.P16 TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DTD.30.9.10 IN O.S. 582/09. RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS: N I L /TRUE COPY/ P.A.TO JUDGE Kss PIUS.C.KURIAKOSE & C.K.ABDUL REHIM, JJ. ------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.23817 of 2011 ------------------------------- Dated this the 19th day of September, 2011. J U D G M E N T PIUS.C.KURIAKOSE, J. There is controversy before us as to whether the strike is continuing. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that even now the strike is continuing. According to learned Government Pleader, he was instructed to submit that the strike was withdrawn on 3.9.2011. On considering the writ petition for admission and on hearing the submission of Dr.S.Gopakumaran Nair, the senior counsel for the petitioners, we passed the following interim order on 1.9.2011. “Respondent Nos.3 to 19 whenever approached will give adequate and effective police protection to the lives of the petitioners/ Distributors, their willing staff, their consumers and also for the smooth functioning of their business especially cash and carry delivery of LPG cylinders, the strike seen launched by respondent Nos.23 and additional respondent No.24 notwithstanding. At any 2 W.P.(C) No.23817 of 2011 rate respondent Nos.3 to 19 shall ensure that distribution of LPG cylinders to the consumers is not disrupted and that no law and order situation arises on account of the strike presently launched. Post on 6.9.11.” 2. The above interim order will stand confirmed. So long as the strike is not withdrawn, respondents nos.3 to 19 will be bound to afford protection in terms of the above order. The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. PIUS.C.KURIAKOSE, JUDGE C.K.ABDUL REHIM, JUDGE ami/