IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN TUESDAY, THE 24TH FEBRUARY 2009 / 5TH PHALGUNA 1930 OP.No. 22977 of 1999(I) ----------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- K.K. SANKARAN VAIDYAR, KAIPPALLI KUNDI HOUSE, KOTTAKKAL P.O., MALAPPURAM DT. BY ADV. SRI.P.CHADRASEKHAR RESPONDENT(S): --------------- THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, MALAPPURAM. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT. SMITHA SUKUMAR. THIS ORIGINAL PETITION HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 24/02/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. Siri Jagan, J. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= O.P. No. 22977 of 1999 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dated this, the 24th February, 2009. J U D G M E N T The petitioner claims to be the member of a scheduled caste, who is eligible for the benefits of the provisions of the Kerala Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. He was also a freedom fighter who was aged 79 years at the time of filing the original petition. 2. The petitioner has some property in R.S.61/10 in Kottakkal village. Some interested persons are alleged to be obstructing the enjoyment of that property by the petitioner, which prompted the petitioner to seek police protection by filing O.P.No. 3065/1996. Despite the same, the petitioner is unable to enjoy the property because of the persisting threat and obstruction alleged to be caused by some influential persons in the locality. When the petitioner approached the Police, he was advised to approach the civil court. However, the petitioner submits that he is not in a position to embark on a costly civil litigation, as he does not have source of income for such an expensive litigation. In the above circumstances, the petitioner has submitted Ext. P2 representation before the District Collector for free legal aid in the matter. The petitioner also submits that by Ext. P3, the Chief Secretary has directed to give free legal aid to persons like the petitioner. The petitioner therefore seeks a direction to the respondent to consider and pass orders on Ext. P2 expeditiously. In the facts and circumstances of the case, I dispose of this original petition with a direction to the District Collector to consider and pass orders on Ext. P2 as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. O.P. No. 22977/1999 -: 2 :- It would also be open to the petitioner to approach the Kerala Legal Services Authority for appropriate legal aid in the matter, now that the Kerala Legal Services Authority is functioning in full swing. Sd/- S. Siri Jagan, Judge. Tds/