IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.S.RADHAKRISHNAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.BASHEER FRIDAY, THE 19TH OCTOBER 2007 / 27TH ASWINA 1929 WA.No. 2450 of 2007 AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT/ORDER IN WPC.31018/2005 Dated 07/11/2005 .................... APPELLANT: RESPONDENTS IN WP(C); 1. STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, HOME DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (DGP), KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, PALAKKAD/ THRISSUR, KASARGOD RURAL SP, KOZHIKODE. 4. THE COMMANDANT/DEPUTY COMMANDANT, KAP-II BATTALION, MUTTIKULANGARA, PALAKKAD. 5. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, SPECIAL BRANCH C.I.D., KASARGOD DISTRICT, SPECIAL BRANCH, PALAKKAD A.R.CAMP, PALAKKAD, MSP MALAPPURAM, CBCID, PALAKKAD. 6. THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL (KERALA), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.BENNY GERVACIS RESPONDENTS: PETITIONERS IN WP(C); 1. V.PRABHAKARAN, RETD. SUB INSPECTOR, P.C.1293, SBC ID, KASARGOD, RESIDING AT SREEMANIKKAM VADAKKUMURI, P.O.KANNADI, PALAKKAD. 2. S. SHANMUGHA, RETD.DVR SI, P.C.1223, KAP II BN.,MUTTIKULANGARA, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT 31/53, SUBRAMANIYAPURAM, PATTIKKARA, PALAKKAD. WA.No. 2450 of 2007 :: 2 :: 3. M.P. VASUDEVAN, RETD.SI, PC.805, DISTRICT SPECIAL BRANCH, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT MAROLI HOUSE, P.O. PULASSERI PATTAMBI, KOPPAM. 4. K.A. SULAIMAN,RETD.SI, PC.699, DCRB, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT SALIM MANZIL, VIDYUTHI NAGAR COLONY,PARAKKUNNU, PALAKKAD. 5. M.M. JOHN, RETD.SUB INSPECTOR, PC 409, DCRB, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT BINOJI COTTAGE, PUDIPPADI STREET, NURANI P.O., PALAKKAD. 6. M. ANANDHAN,RETD.SUB INSPECTOR, PC 1023, SPECIAL BRANCH, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT THAMARACHIRA KALAM, CHATTIER P.O., PALAKKAD. 7. A.RAMACHANDRAN, RETD.SUB INSPECTOR, PC 1187, KASABA POLICE STATION PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT CHANDRAS, MARUTI NAGAR, KALLEPPULLY, PALAKKAD. 8. P. KESAVAN NAIR, RETD.RSI MSD 1101, AR, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT LAKSHMI NIVAS, P.O. KOLLEPPULLY, PALAKKAD DISTRICT 9. U. KHALID, RETD.SI, DISTRICT SPECIAL BRANCH, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT H.NO.44/304, PATTANI STREET,PALAKKAD. 10. P. RAVINDRANATHAN,RETD.SI, PC 1661, MANKARA POLICE STATION, RESIDING AT SREE PADAM, THEKKEKKARA P.O.,KAVASSERY, VIA. ALATHUR, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 11. NEELAKANTAN K.M., RETD.SUB INSPECTOR, PC 1251, PATTAMBI POLICE STATION, RESIDING AT KANHUR MANA, P.O. KODUMANDA, PATTAMBI, PALAKKAD. 12. K.V. KOPPUNNI, RETD.ASI, PATTAMBI POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT RATHIKA NIVAS, KOORATHUPARAMBIL HOUSE, P.O. KAILIYAD, SHORNUR-2, PALAKKAD. 13. N. BALAKRISHNAN, RETD.ASI PC 1797, CHERPLACHERRY POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT PAVANA MANJERIKAVU, P.O. KONOGAD, PALAKKAD. WA.No. 2450 of 2007 :: 3 :: 14. R. NBAYANDI, RETD.ASI, PC 1508, MSP, MALAPPURAM, RESIDING AT VAKKAD HOUSE, THOOPPALLAM, MALAMPUZHA P.O., PALAKKAD. 15. K. VELAYUDHAN, RETD.ASI, PC 1854, KASABA POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT SASTHA NIVAS, VIII/33, PERANDAKKAD, KANNADI, PALAKKAD P.O. 16. C. RAMAKRISHNAN, RETD.ASI PC NOP 1953, CRIME BRANCH UNIT,PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT VAZHANCHERRY HOUSE, THEKKONI,KOTTEKKAD PALAKKAD. 17. M. CHELLAPPAN, RETD.ASI, PC 2135, CHERPLACHERRY POLICE STATION, RESIDING AT PATHIYIL HOUSE, P.O. VATTEKKAD, KOLLAMKODE, PALAKKAD. 18. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN, RETD.SI, PC (P) 1213, MANKARA POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT SOWMIA NIVAS, PAYA ROAD, MUDAPPALLUR P.O., ALATHUR, PALAKKAD. 19. M.K. MADHUSOODHANAN, RETD.ASI, PC 1723, AGALI POLICE STATION,PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT USHUS, NEAR ST.PAULS SCHOOL,PATTAMBI. 20. M. NARAYANANNAIR, RTD. ASI, PC 1246, CHERUTHURUTHY POLICE STATION, THRISSUR DISTRICT, RESIDING AT KARTHIKA, P.O. NELLIKKATTIRI, KOOTTANADU, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 21. P. SWAMINATHAN, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE, MSP M 3989, CBCID,PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT MANIYANKAD HOUSE, C.N.PURAM P.O., PALAKKAD. 22. K. ARUMUGHAN, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE 2216, PARAMBIKULAM POLICE STATION, RESIDING AT PUTHENPURAKKAL HOUSE, CHINGATTUKOLUMBA CHENTHAMARA NAGAR,THATHAMANGALAM. 23. M. RAMANKUTTY, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE, THOTTILPALAM POLICE STATION, KOZHIKODE RURAL DISTRICT, RESIDING AT PANNIYAMKAD HOUSE, P.O. SREEKRISHNAPURAM, PALAKKAD. WA.No. 2450 of 2007 :: 4 :: 24. A.K. EACHUNNI NAMBIAR, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE 791, SPECIAL BRANCH CID, PALAKAKD UNIT, RESIDING AT KKURUVATHODY HOUSE, MUTHUTHALA P.O., PATTAMBI VIA., PALAKKAD. 25. V. KUMARAN, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE 1891, MANGALAM DAM POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD,RESIDING AT KERALA PARAMBU HOUSE P.O. ALATHUR, PALAKKAD. 26. M. JESUDAS, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE (P2 644), AGALI POLICE STATION PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT PALLIKODATHANOOR HOUSE, PALANIYAR PALAYAM P.O., KOZHINJAMPARA, PALAKKAD. 27. C. BALASUBRAMANIYAN, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE, PC 2268, AR PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT POTTAKKAL HOUSE, KARINGAMTHODI P.O., KOYALMANNAM, PALAKKAD. 28. K. CHAMI, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE 2594, VADAKKENCHERRY POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT THEKKUMURI HOUSE, KOZHALMANNAM P.O., PALAKKAD. 29. P.K. VELAMURUGHAN, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE 905, TOWN TRAFFIC UNIT, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT SASI NIVAS,THEKKEPARAMBU, P.O. PUTHUPPARIYARAM, PALAKKAD. 30. T. SOMASUNDARAN, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE, P 1320, DCRB, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT CHITHIRA BHAVAN, POLICE HOUSING COLONY P.O. KANNADI, PALAKKAD. 31. F.M. NAUSHAD, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE 1888, KASABA POLICE STATION, RESIDING AT SHA MANZIL, POOCHIRA, PUDUPERIYARAM, OLAVAKKODE, PALAKKAD. 32. V.V. UNNIKRISHNAN, RTD. HEAD CONSTABLE P 1982,PATTAMBI POLICE STATION PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT VALLAKARAPURATH VENGALI, P.O. THALASSERI, THRITHALA, PALAKKAD. 33. ACHUTHANKUTTY P.V., RETD. HEAD CONSTABLE P 1955,SHORNUR POLICE STATION PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT VINOD VIHAR, P.O. PARUTHUR, VIA. PALLIPPURAM, PALAKKAD-679 312. WA.No. 2450 of 2007 :: 5 :: 34. P.A. AKBAR BHASHA, RETD. POLICE CONSTABLE 2462, OTTAPPALAM POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT ATHIKKAL HOUSE, P.O. MANNAR, PATHIRIPPALA, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 35. T.C. AYYAPPAN, RETD. POLICE CONSTABLE PC 6242, HEMAMBIKA NAGAR POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT VAISHNAVAM, THANAV, P.O. OLAVAKKODE, PALAKKAD. 36. C. JANARDHANAN, RETD. POLICE CONSTABLE 1730, PUDUNAGARAM POLICE STATION, RESIDING AT THUPPALAKAM, PERUVEMBA P.O., PALAKKAD. 37. Y. KRISHNAKUMARA, RETD. POLICE STATION, CONSTABLE 2652, HEMAMBIKA NAGAR POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT H.NO.2/302, G.R.PURAM, AMBAIKAPURAM P.O., PALAKKAD. 38. S. RAJAGOPALAN, RETD. ASI, PC.NO.1912, CHATTIER POLICE STATION, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT POOLAKKAD HOUSE,VILAYAM P.O. VILAYANCHATHANUR, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 39. C. SREEDHARAN UNNI, RETD. RESERVE INSPECTOR, MSP 1391, PALAKKAD ARMED RESERVE, RESIDING AT SREYAS, PULLODE P.O., VIA. PUTHIANKAM, PALAKKAD. 40. VIJAYAN K., RETD. S.I., DISTRICT SPECIAL BRANCH, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT PALLLIKANDATH HOUSE, EAST VENNAKKARA, NURANI P.O., PALAKKAD. 41. M. SUKUMARAN, RETD. ASI PC 1977, CIRCLE INSPECTOR OFFICE, MANNARKKAD, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT SUJA NIVAS, PUZHAKKAL, KANNADI P.O., PALAKKAD. 42. P. BALASUBRAMANIYAN, RETD. POLICE CONSTABLE PC NO.1704, SB CID, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT 35/318, KRISHNAKRIPA, ULLAS NAGAR, KAVILPAD P.O., OLAVAKKODE, PALAKKAD. 43. P. MOHAN,RETD. SUB INSPECTOR, KODAKARA POLICE STATION, THRISSUR DISTRICT, RESIDING AT PADINJAKKARA HOUSE, MANKARA P.O., PALAKKAD. WA.No. 2450 of 2007 :: 6 :: 44. VASUDEVAN, RETD. HEAD CONSTABLE, HIGH COURT (P) 3688, DISTRICT ARMED RESERVE PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT SARAKKUPA HOUSE, P.O. MANNENGODE, VIA. PULASSERI, PALAKKAD. 45. P. VISWANATHAN, RETD. RESERVE SUB INSPECTOR, PC 2512,ARMED RESERVE PALAKKAD,RESIDING AT SREYAS X/258,CHUDUVALATHUR PO SHORNUR, PALAKKAD. BY THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 19/10/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: K.S.RADHAKRISHNAN & A.K.BASHEER, JJ. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - C.M.Appl.No.1111 OF 2007 & W.A.No.2450 OF 2007 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 19th day of October, 2007 JUDGMENT Radhakrishnan, J Similar issue came up before this court in W.A.1132/06 and other connected cases. This court by its judgment dated 18th August, 2007 allowed those appeals and set aside the judgments of the learned Single Judge. 2. There is a delay of 523 days in filing this appeal. So far as this case is concerned cogent reasons have been stated by the State for condoning the delay and we have condoned the delay taking into consideration the larger public interest. In such circumstances, this writ appeal is allowed. K.S.RADHAKRISHNAN, JUDGE A.K.BASHEER, JUDGE jes