IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR TUESDAY, THE 12TH JANUARY 2010 / 22TH POUSHA 1931 WP(C).No. 998 of 2010(Y) ----------------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------------- MUHAMMEDALI P., AGED 34 YEARS, S/O.IBRAHIM, PULAKKAL HOUSE, P.O.KOLATHUR, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. BY ADVS. MR. E.S.M.KABEER, MR.ABDUL MAJEED.N. RESPONDENTS: ------------------------ 1. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, MALAPPURAM. 2. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KOLATHUR, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. R1 & R2 BY GOVT. PLEADER MR. P. NARAYANAN. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 12/01/2010,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: prv. T.R. Ramachandran Nair, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P.(C) No. 998 of 2010-Y - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 12th day of January, 2010. JUDGMENT The petitioner is the registered owner of mini lorry bearing registration No.KL-31-1054. It is the case of the petitioner that on 26.12.2009 the second respondent took the above vehicle into custody alleging unauthorised transportation of sand. Even though the petitioner produced all the required documents, the second respondent did not release the vehicle and referred the matter to the first respondent. Immediately thereafter, the petitioner submitted an application as per Ext.P3 before the first respondent seeking interim custody of the vehicle. He also expressed his willingness to undertake production of the vehicle as and when required by the first respondent. Aggrieved by the delay in disposal of the application, this writ petition is filed. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Govt. Pleader. There will be a direction to the first respondent to take a decision on Ext.P3 within a period of seven days from the date of production of a copy of this judgment, in the light of the well settled principles laid down by this Court in various decisions and on such terms and conditions. The matter will be wpc998 /2010 2 considered in accordance with law. There will be a further direction to the first respondent to pass final orders within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment with notice to the petitioner and after considering the pleas raised by the petitioner, on merits. The writ petition is disposed of as above. No costs. (T.R. Ramachandran Nair, Judge.) kav/