IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN TUESDAY, THE 3RD NOVEMBER 2009 / 12TH KARTHIKA 1931 WP(C).No. 30159 of 2009(L) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- RAJAZAFAR, S.V.NIVAS, THENOORKONAM, VIZHINJAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADV. SRI.P.BABU KUMAR SRI.P.YADHU KUMAR RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE R.D.O., FORT KOCHI, PO, ERNAKULAM. 2. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, NEDUMBASSERY AIRPORT POLICE STATION. BY GOVT. PLEADER SRI. P.NARAYANAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03/11/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 30159 OF 2009 -------------------------- Dated this the 3rd day of November, 2009 J U D G M E N T The petitioner sold an idol of Lord Ganesha to a citizen of the Republic of Kazakstan during her visit to India. The petitioner consigned the goods to the address of the purchaser through a courier. It was seized by the second respondent from the courier and crime No.679/09 was registered on the suspicion that it is an antique object and that it was not accompanied by proper documents. In this writ petition, the petitioner seeks a direction to the respondents to release the said idol. 2. When the writ petition came up for hearing today, the learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted on instructions that the idol of Lord Ganesha seized from the courier was sent to the Archeological Survey of India for expert opinion and that the Archeological Survey of India has reported that it is not an antique object. He also submitted that on receipt of the said report, the Revenue Divisional Officer, Fortkochi, has directed the Sub Inspector of Police, Nedumbassery Airport Police Station to take back the idol from the officers of the Archeological Survey of W.P.(C) No. 30159/09 2 India. The learned Government Pleader also submits that as soon as the article is received back by the second respondent, the petitioner’s claim petition seeking release of the idol will be considered. In view of the said submissions, the petitioner cannot have any subsisting grievance that his claim for release of the idol will not be considered. I therefore dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the first respondent to consider the request made by the petitioner for release of the idol of Lord Ganesha seized by the Sub Inspector of Police, Nedumbassery Air Port Police Station, and pass orders thereon within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. P.N.RAVINDRAN, JUDGE vps