IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR.J.CHELAMESWAR & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON TUESDAY, THE 18TH JANUARY 2011 / 28TH POUSHA 1932 WP(C).No. 1340 of 2011(S) ------------------------------ PETITIONER: --------------- LAW SOCIETY OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS PRESIDENT M.P.KRISHNAN NAIR, HAVING ITS OFFICE AT: 58/1449, INFANT JESUS BUILDING, HIGH COURT ROAD, KOCHI-31. BY ADV. SRI.V.B.NARAYANAN SRI.M.P.HARIKUMARAN PILLAI SRI.ANIYANKUNJU VARGHESE RESPONDENTS: ----------------- 1. THE ADMINISTRATOR, U.T.OF LAKSHADWEEP, KAVARATHI-682 555. 2. LAKSHADWEEP DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REP. BY GENERAL MANAGER, PANAMPILLY NAGAR, ERNAKULAM-682 036. 3. NATIONAL UNION OF SEAMEN'S INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, MR.ABDUL GANI, MUMBAI-444 701. 4. FORWARD UNION OF SEAMEN'S INDIA, REP. BY MR.MOHAMMED L.F, MINICOY ISLAND, U.T.OF LAKSHADWEEP-682 559. 5. LAKSHADWEEP SEAMEN'S WELFARE ASSOCIATION, REP. BY ITS PRESIDENT, MR.ISHARAT KHAN, KAVARATTI, U.T.OF LAKSHADWEEP- 682 555. ADDL.6. THE SECRETARY, DEFENCE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA. (ADDL.6TH RESPONDENT IS IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 14.1.2011 IN W.P.(C) NO.1340 OF 2011) BY STANDING COUNSEL SRI.S.RADHAKRISHNAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 18/01/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: J.Chelameswar, C.J. & P.R.Ramachandra Menon, J. ------------------------------------------ W.P.(C) No.1340 of 2011 ------------------------------------------ Dated this the 18th day of January, 2011 JUDGMENT J.Chelameswar, C.J. The writ petition is filed with the prayers as follows: “i) to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing respondents 1 and 2 to forthwith resume the movements of 18 ships from Mainland to Lakshadweep and vice versa which was disrupted due to the unwarranted and unexpected strike called by crew unions; ii) Issue a Advocate Commission to find out the present situation of the stranded people due to cancellation of ship movements and report to this Hon'ble Court the ways and means taken by the respondents 1 and 2 for solving the problem; iii) To direct respondents 1 and 2 to provide subsistence allowance to the tune of `5000/- to the stranded people; iv) to grant such other reliefs as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.” 2. When the matter is taken up today, a communication dated 15.01.2011 from the Collector-cum-Development Commissioner addressed to the Registrar of this Court is placed before us, the relevant portion of which reads as follows: WP(C) No.1340 of 2011 - 2 - “We are in receipt of the Order of Hon'ble Division Bench of High Court of Kerala dated 14.01.2011. The dispute has been resolved on 14.01.2011 and the ships have started plying from 15th January, 2011. Therefore, there is no need now for any assistance from the Ministry of Defence in this matter. This may kindly be brought to the notice of the Hon'ble Division Bench in person quickly and in Court on 18.01.2011 when the matter is posted there next.” 3. The substance of the communication is that the writ petition has become infructuous. In the circumstances, we do not see any reason to proceed further with the writ petition and the same is dismissed. J.Chelameswar, Chief Justice P.R.Ramachandra Menon, Judge vns