IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.M.JOSEPH & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.L.JOSEPH FRANCIS THURSDAY, THE 20TH MAY 2010 / 30TH VAISAKHA 1932 WP(C).No. 12870 of 2010(G) -------------------------- PETITIONER: --------------- LALITHAMBIKA.A.R, W/O.LATE G.CHANDRASEKHARAN PILLAI,AATOOR VEEDU (USHUS),PORUVAZHI VILLAGE,KUNNATHOOR TALUK, KOLLAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.KURIAN GEORGE KANNANTHANAM, SENIOR ADVOCATE RESPONDENTS: --------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA REP.BY SECRETARY, LAW AND ADMINISTRATION,GOVT.SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, KOLLAM. 3. DISTRICT COLLECTOR,KOLLAM DISTRICT. 4. SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, KOLLAM DISTRICT. 5. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, KARUNAGAPPALLY. 6. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, SASTHAMCOTTAH. 7. JOHNSON,S/O.SAMUEL,VALAKODE, CHATHAKULAM.P.O,PORUVAZHI VILLAGE, KUNNATHOOR TALUK,KOLLAM DISTRICT. 8. SARA,W/O.SAMUEL,VALAKODE,CHATHAKULAM.PO, PORUVAZHI VILLAGE,KUNNATHOOR TALUK,KOLLAM DIST. 9. SAMUEL,VALAKODE -DO- 10. MADHAVAN,S/O.GOVINDAN,MANOJ BHAVANAM, CHATHAKULAM.P.O,PORUVAZHI VILLAGE,KUNNATHOOR TALUK KOLLAM DISTRICT. 11. NARAYANAN,S/O.CHELLAPPAN PILLAI, PUTHANVEETTIL,CHATHAKULAM.P.O,PORUVAZHI VILLAGE, KUNNATHOOR TALUK,KOLLAM DISTRICT. 12. MADHAVAN PILLAI,S/O.CHELLAPPAN PILLAI -DO- 13. SHANMUGHAM PILLAI,S/O. -DO- 14. HARIHARAN PILLA,S/O. -DO- 15. NANUNAYAR,KOPPARA VEEDU, CHATHAKULAM.P.O,KUNNATHOOR TALUK, KOLLAM DISTRICT. G.P., SHRI. T K VIPINDAS R1 TO R6. ADV. SRI.K.S.MANU (PUNUKKONNOOR) FOR R7-15 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 20/05/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: APPENDIX PETITITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 : TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 27.3.2008 ISSUED FROM THE 2ND RESPONDENT. EXT.P2 : TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINTS DT.12.3.2010 TO THE C.I. OF POLICE. EXT.P3 : TRUE COPY OF THE - DO - DT.22.3.2010 TO DYSP. EXT.P4 : TRUE COPY OF THE -DO- DT.27.3.2010 TO THE SUPER- INTENDENT OF POLICE. EXT.P5 : TRUE COPY OF THE -DO- TO THE COLLECTOR. EXT.P6: TRUE COPY OF THE TITLE DEED SHOWING THE THE PETITIONER IS THE OWNER OF THE LAND. EXT.P7 : TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT SHOWING THAT THE PETITIONER PAID THE LAND/ PROPERTY TAX. EXT.P8 : COPY OF THE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE NATURE OF THE PETITIONER'S LAND. RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS: EXT.R7(a): PHOTO OF THE PETITIONER'S PROPERTY. // TRUE COPY // K. M. JOSEPH & M.L. JOSEPH FRANCIS, JJ. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P.(C).No. 12870 of 2010 G - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 20th day of May, 2010 JUDGMENT Joseph, J. The petitioner has approached this Court seeking police protection as against respondents 7 to 15 for the purpose of removing earth as sanctioned by the R.D.O. vide Ext.P1. According to the petitioner he wanted to put up a building and for that he wanted to remove the earth. He had approached the R.D.O., who has granted him permission also. According to the petitioner the permission was granted under Rule 57 of the Kerala Minor Minerals Concesisons Rules, 1967. 2. We heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the party respondents. 3. We had a doubt whether the R.D.O. is the competent authority to give permission under Rule 57 of the above Rules. W.P.(C).No. 12870 of 2010 2 4. The learned Government Pleader submits that the R.D.O. is the competent person. The learned counsel for the party respondents would point out that under the guise of the said order, the petitioner may take earth from a larger area. 5. The learned counsel for the petitioner undertakes that the petitioner will abide by the terms of Ext.P1. 6. In such circumstances we dispose of the Writ Petition. There will be a direction to respondents 4 to 6 to afford protection to the petitioner for removal of earth in terms of Ext.P1 as against any obstruction from respondents 7 to 15. This protection is subject to the condition that the petitioner carries out removal of earth strictly in accordance with the conditions stipulated in Ext.P1, in particular, the condition that the petitioner is permitted to remove earth from 4.05 ares as stipulated therein and nothing more. (K. M. JOSEPH) Judge (M.L. JOSEPH FRANCIS) tm Judge