IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR FRIDAY, THE 25TH JANUARY 2008 / 5TH MAGHA 1929 OP.No. 30391 of 2002(R) ---------------------------------- PETITIONERS: --------------------- 1. A.K.NARAYANAN, ADIKKUDIPLACKAL, PERINGASSERRY. 2. A.PANKAJAKSHAN, ADIKKUDIPLACKAL, PERINGASSERRY. 3. KANDE ADICHAN, ADIKKUDIPLACKAL, PERINGASSERRY. 4. E.A.PRABHAKARAN, ELAVUMTHADATHIL, PERINGASSERRY. 5. KANDA NARAYANAN, KALLAPLACKAL, PERINGASSERRY. 6. KRISHNAN PAZHAYARIKKAT, PERINGASSERRY. 7. C.P.RAGHAVAN, CHATHAPLACKAL, PERINGASSERRY. 8. KELA NARAYANAN, KURUPPILLIL, PERINGASSERRY. 9. KELA GOPALAN, KURUPPILLIL, PERINGASSERRY. 10. KELA KOCHU, MODAMPLACKAL, PERINGASSERRY. 11. KELA KOCHU, VAZHIPURACKAL, PERINGASSERRY. 12. MUNDAN KELA, KALIPPALLIL, PERINGASSERRY. O.P. NO. 30391/2002-R: 13. KELA KOCHU, POTTANANICAL, PERINGASSERRY. 14. MADHAVAN, ARIKALAYIL, PERINGASSERRY. 15. KELA KRISHNAN, KALIPPALLIL, PERINGASSERRY. BY ADV. SRI.JOSE KUTTIYANY, ADV. SRI.V.C.JAMES. RESPONDENTS: ------------------------ 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVT. FOREST DEPARTMENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER, KOTHAMANGALAM. 3. FOREST RANGE OFFICER, THODUPUZHA. BY SPL. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. RENJITH THAMBAN. THIS ORIGINAL PETITION HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 25/01/2008,ALONG WITH O.P NO. 3575/2003,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ORDER ON C.M.P. NO. 51421/2002 IN O.P. NO. 30391/2002-R DISMISSED 25/01/2008. SD/- T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, JUDGE. APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS : EXT.P.1: COPY OF THE MUCHILIKKA UDAMPADY DTD. 05/12/68. EXT.P.2: COPY OF THE GOVT. ORDER NO. 18317/89 F & WLD DTD. 25/06/90. EXT.P.3: COPY OF THE DIRECTION BY RANGE OFFICER, THODUPUZHA DTD. 28/07/90. EXT.P.4: COPY OF THE DIRECTION BY DIST. COLLECTOR, IDUKKI DT. 27/09/90. EXT.P.5: COPY OF THE REVENUE RECOVERY NOTICE DTD. 27/06/95. EXT.P.6: COPY OF THE CHALLAN RECEIPT NO. 1197 OF SUB TREASURY THODUPUZHA DTD. 20 NOV. 1995. EXT.P.7: COPY OF THE NOTICE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY SPICES BOARD, THODUPUZHA DTD. 29/09/93. EXT.P.8: COPY OF THE NOTICE BY DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER, KOTHAMANGALAM DT. 27/06/95. EXT.P.9: COPY OF THE CHALLAN RECEIPT NO. 1816 DT. 29/08/95 OF SUB TREASURY, THODUPUZHA. RESPONDENT'S EXHIBIT: EXT. R2.A: COPY OF THE APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF LEASE DTD. 11/09/1985. //TRUE COPY// prv. T.R. Ramachandran Nair, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O.P.NOs.30391/2002 & 3575 of 2003 - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 25th day of January, 2008. JUDGMENT The petitioners have approached this court with identical prayers, to issue a writ of mandamus, etc. directing the third respondent and other subordinate field officers working under him not to interfere with peaceful enjoyment of the petitioners' land including plucking of cardamom and its maintenance. The apparent contention is that the petitioners are in possession of forest land and they have raised cardamom cultivation in it. It is averred in the original petition that Ext.P2 order permitted the tribals to harvest the existing crop which they have cultivated. 2. Learned Special Govt. Pleader for Forests, on instructions submits that the area in question is Reserve Forest and the original lease period is already over and there are no proposals to renew the same also. If at all any action has to be taken, that can only be with the consent of the Central Government, in view of Section 2 of the Conservation of Forests Act, 1980. In the light of the above legal position, no relief can be granted by this court. Therefore, the original petition is dismissed. (T.R. Ramachandran Nair, Judge.) kav/ -2- T.R. Ramachandran Nair, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O.P. Nos.30391/02 & 3575/03 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - JUDGMENT 25th January, 2008.