IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R.BASANT FRIDAY, THE 5TH SEPTEMBER 2008 / 14TH BHADRA 1930 WP(C).No. 26524 of 2008(G) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ AJI.M., S/O.BASHEER, VALIYAUDAYINCHIRA, THEKKEKARA PUTHEN VEEDU, MANGODE P.O., PATHANAPURAM ,KOLLAM. BY ADV. SRI.AJITH KRISHNAN RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. THE SUB DIVISIONAL OFFICER,CHENGANNUR. 2. THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE,VENMANY. 3. THE JOINT REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER CHENGANNUR. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.GIKKU JACOB THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 05/09/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: R.BASANT, J ------------------------------------ W.P(C). No.26524 of 2008 ------------------------------------- Dated this the 5th day of September, 2008 JUDGMENT Petitioner's vehicle was seized under suspicious circumstance by the police and the same was produced before the Sub Divisional Magistrate. The Sub Divisional Magistrate, by the impugned order, directed release of the vehicle to the petitioner. The Sub Divisional Magistrate insisted that the petitioner must provide security for Rs.4 lakhs with two solvent sureties. 2. The short grievance before me is that the demand of a bond for Rs.4 lakhs is excessive. The bond amount may be reduced. This is the short prayer. 3. What is the value of the vehicle ? The impugned order shows that the Joint Regional Transport Officer, as directed by the Sub Divisional Magistrate, assessed the value to be Rs.4 lakhs. Prima facie I find no reasons to interfere with that assessment. What material has the W.P(C). No.26524 of 2008 2 petitioner to show that the actual value of the vehicle is less than that. No materials whatsoever is produced. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioner finally submits that the operative portion of the order is vague and there is no specific statement as to what sort of security must be provided. It is made clear that if the petitioner executes a bond for Rs.4 lakhs with two solvent sureties each for the like sum to the satisfaction of the learned Sub Divisional Magistrate, the vehicle must be released to the petitioner. 5. This Writ Petition is dismissed with the above observations. (R.BASANT, JUDGE) rtr/-