IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.BASHEER FRIDAY, THE 29TH JUNE 2007 / 8TH ASHADHA 1929 WP(C).No. 16230 of 2007(F) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ----------------- 1. P.K.VAMAKESAN, S/O.KUMARAN, PALLIPARAMBIL HOUSE, EDAKOCHI, KOCHI-6. 2. V.G.GOPI, VALAVIPARAMBIL HOUSE, EDAKOCHI, KOCHI-6. BY ADV. SRI.K.R.VINOD SRI.K.V.VINOD RESPONDENTS: ------------------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE CORPORATION OF KOCHI, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, CORPORATION OFFICE, ERNAKULAM. BY ADV. SRI.K.ANAND, SC, COCHIN CORPN. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 29/06/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: A.K. Basheer, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P(C) No.16230 of 2007 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 29th day of June, 2007. J U D G M E N T Petitioners are local residents of Division No.16 of Edakochi village within the limits of the Corporation of Kochi. The grievance of the local residents, including the petitioners, as highlighted in the writ petition appears to be that there is no road access for the inhabitants to reach to their respective places of abode. Petitioners would contend that the Corporation had constructed a road in that area pursuant to acquisition proceedings initiated in the year 1992, but the road was not completed for the entire stretch as proposed earlier , with the result the petitioners and other local residents are now left without any road access. 2. It is admitted by the petitioners that the Corporation will have to initiate fresh acquisition proceedings to acquire land for the purpose of constructing the road, for which they are making the demand now. Their grievance is that the Corporation is not taking any steps in this regard. The locals are put to untold hardship because of the inaction of the Corporation. But the petitioners have not approached the Corporation so far. They have however submitted Ext.P6 representation before the Minister who is in charge of the Department concerned. Learned counsel submits that petitioners are prepared to submit an identical representation before the Corporation and other authorities, so that appropriate action can be initiated in the matter without any delay. The limited prayer is to WP.16230/07 2 issue an appropriate direction to the Corporation to take expeditious steps to initiate acquisition proceedings and start the construction of the road on a war footing 3. Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to respondent No.2 to take a decision on the representation, if any, that may be submitted by the petitioners with regard to the issue highlighted above. If such a representation is submitted by them within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, an appropriate decision in the matter shall be taken by respondent No.2 as expeditiously as possible, at any rate within two months from the date of receipt thereof. Needless to mention that authorised representatives of the petitioners and the local residents shall be afforded sufficient opportunity to be heard, before any decision is taken in the matter. A.K. Basheer Judge. an.