IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE MRS.MANJULA CHELLUR & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON FRIDAY, THE 18TH NOVEMBER 2011 / 27TH KARTHIKA 1933 WP(C).No. 6108 of 2009(S) ------------------------- PETITIONER: --------------- T.M.SADAN, AGED 43, S/O.MANIYAN, THAKAVA KANDATHIL HOUSE, PERUVA, SECRETARY, COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA MULALKKULAM LOCAL COMMITTEE PERUVA P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.SHAJI THANKAPPAN RESPONDENTS: --------------- 1. MULAKKULAM GRAMA PANCHAYATH, MULAKKULAM SOUTH P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. THE RDO, PALA. 3. TAHSILDAR, VAIKOM. 4. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, VELLOOR. 5. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KADUTHURUTHY. 6. DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOTTAYAM. 7. THE DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICER, KOTTAYAM. 8. THE DISTRICT GEOLOGIST, MINING AND GEOLOGY, KOTTAYAM. 9. THE KERALA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, PLAMOOD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 10. SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF REVENUE, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 11. K.V.ABRAHAM, KARAMEL, MEVALLOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. WP(C).No. 6108 of 2009(S) 12. T.K.GEORGE, THOTTATHIL HOUSE, MEVALLOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 13. P.K.BINOY, THOTTATHIL HOUSE, MEVALLOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 14. K.A.BINOY, MURIKKATTIL HOUSE, PERUVA P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 15. C.K.MANOJ KUMAR, CHANGALAMTHURUTHEL, KARIKKODU P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 16. JAYA SHIBUKUMAR, CHANGALATHURUTHEL, KARIKKODU.P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 17. SARADA K.K., KUTTIKKATTIL, MULAKKULAM P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 18. M.K.PRATHAPAN, MUTHEDATH, MEVELLOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 19. T.P.GEORGE, VYPPEL, MEVELLOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 20. P.V.ELIAS, PROPRIETOR, A&C BRICKS, MULAKKULAM SOUTH P.O., VAIKOM, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PIN 686 610. 21. CHACKO C.K., PROPRIETOR, M/S.KATTETH BRICKS, MULAKKULAM SOUTH P.O., VAIKOM, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PIN 686 610. 22. T.N.MOHANAN, PROPRIETOR, M/S.ALLY BRICKS, CHANGALAMTHURUTHEL, KARICODE P.O., KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. R1 BY ADV. SRI.K.MOHANAKANNAN, SC. BY ADV. A.R. PRAVITHA R2 TO R8 AND R10 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER ADV MR. JAMES MATHEW KADAVAN. R9 BY ADV. MR. M.K. CHANDRAMOHAN DAS R11 BY SRI.NAVEEN THOMAS FOR R11 R12 AND R13 BY ADV. SRI.V.PHILIP MATHEW R14, TO 19, 21, AND 22 BY ADV. ALIAS M. CHERIAN R20 BY ADV. SRI.P.P.JACOB THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 18/11/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C).No. 6108 of 2009(S) APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT. P1 : A TRUE PHOTOCOPY OF THE LETTER DATED 12.O1.2009 SHOWING THE DETAILS OF LICENSE GIVEN BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT TO THE RESPONDNETS 11 TO 19 BRICK MAUFACTURERS. EXT.P2 : TRUE PHOTOCOPY OF THE RESOLUTION DATED 11.02.2008 EXT.P3 : A TRUE PHOTOCOPY OF THE LETTER DATED26.04.2008 ISSUED BY THE 7TH RESPONDENT TO THE PETITIONER. EXT.P4 : A TRUE PHOTOCOPY OF THE REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT RDO DATED 10.12.2008. EXT.P5 : A TRUE PHOTOCOPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 15.12.2008 IN RESPECT OF THE 'DHARNA SAMARAM'. EXT.P6 : A TRUE PHOTOCOPY OF THE MASS PETITION DATED 13.01.2009 SUBMITTED BEFORE THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR. RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS: EXT.R18A : TRUE COPY OF THE PERMISSION FROM KERALA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, CONSENT TO OPERATE DATED 31.01.2008 EXT.P18B : TRUE COPY OF THE LICENSE DATED 23.01.2008 ISSUED BY THE GEOLOGIST. EXT.R18C : TRUE COPY OF THE LICENSE DATED 21.2.2008 ISSUED BY THE PANCHAYATH EXT.R18D : TRUE COPY OF THE LICENSE DATED 3.11.2008 ISSUED BY THE GEOLOGIST. EXT.R18E : TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER G.O.(MS)21.10/Ind. DATED 7.2.2009 EXT.R1(a) : TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 01.12.2009 OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT PANCHAYAT TO THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR. WP(C).No. 6108 of 2009(S) EXT.R1(b) : TRUE COPY OF COMMUNICATION NO.A5-4160/09 DATED 01.12.2009 FROM THE 1ST RESPONDENT PANCHAYAT TO THE 20TH RESPONDENT. EXT.R1(c) : TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT DATED 19.12.2009 FROM THE PETITIONER TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT PANCHAYAT. EXT.R1d) : TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 30.12.2009 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT PANCHAYAT. EXT.R1(e) : TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 04.01.2010 SUBMITITED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT PANCHAYAT TO THE TAHSILDAR, VAIKOM. EXT.R1(f) : TRUE COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS NO.4151/09 DATED 12.01.2010 OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT PANCHAYAT. EXT.R1(g) : TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER NO.E10-59637/09 DATED 19.01.2010 OF THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOTTAYAM. EXT.R1(h) : TRUE COPY OF ORDER NO.A4-4151/09 DATED 20.02.2010 OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT PANCHAYAT. /TRUE COPY/ P.S. TO JUDGE. MANJULA CHELLUR, Ag. CJ & P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, J. .............................................................................. W.P.(C) 6108 OF 2009 ......................................................................... Dated this the 18th November, 2011 J U D G M E N T MANJULA CHELLUR, Ag. CJ. With the consent of both the sides, we heard the matter on merits. 2. The petitioner has sought for the following reliefs: “1. issue a writ of mandamus or any other writ, order or direction commanding the respondents 1,2,3,6,8, 9 and 10 to take immediate legal steps to stop the conversion of paddy field for other purposes other than provided in the Kerala Land Utilization Order and Paddy Field Protection Act. II. To issue a writ of certiorari or any other order or direction to call for the records leading to the issuance of license, which are granted illegally by the respondents 1,2,3,6,8 and 9 and quash the same. III. Issue a writ of mandamus or appropriate writ, order or direction commanding the W.P.(C) 6108 OF 2009 2 respondents 1 to 6 to take appropriate action against the respondents 11 to 22 for leaving behind the large pit holes unfilled after the excavation of clay and sand as the abandoned pits have become great threat of the residents. IV. Issue any other appropriate writ, order or direction that this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper as per the facts and circumstances of the case. ” 3. Though the petitioner has sought for the above reliefs in the writ petition, now he is seeking a prayer to consider serious grievance of him that no one without valid permits should be allowed to remove the clay from the jurisdiction of Mulakkulam Grama Panchayath. He also submits that under the guise of removing clay for manufacturing of bricks, the clay from the paddy fields is being removed, thereby causing damage to the paddy fields. 4. Heard the learned Counsel for the first respondent/Panchayat, who is responsible for issuance of such permits within the Mulakkulam Grama Panchayath and also the W.P.(C) 6108 OF 2009 3 learned Counsel representing the private parties. According to the Panchayath, they will not allow anyone to carry on manufacturing of bricks by removing clay from the paddy fields within the Panchayath limits and that they will allow only persons with valid permits to remove the clay . 5. In view of the said submission, we hereby direct the first respondent to monitor and regulate the licences given for removing the clay and also to see that under the guise of manufacturing of bricks, the clay from the paddy fields are not removed, resulting in damage to the paddy fields in view of the provisions under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act and Rules. The writ petition is disposed of as above. MANJULA CHELLUR, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE. P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, JUDGE. lk