IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT:- THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR.H.L.DATTU & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.BASHEER FRIDAY, THE 18TH JULY 2008 / 27TH ASHADHA 1930 W.A.No.463 of 2008 --------------------------------- AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT IN W.P.(C).35619/2007 DATED 14/01/2008 .................... APPELLANTS: PETITIONER IN WPC: ------------------------------------------------- 1. ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT AUTO THOZHILALI KENDRAM (AATK) REG.NO.3/13/95, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, A.M.IQBAL, S/O.ABDUL RAHMAN, AGED 46 YEARS, RESIDING AT TAJ NIVAS, THEKKEVELIKKAKAM, MULLATH WARD, ALAPPUZHA 688 002. ADDITIONAL APPELLANTS 2 TO 58 IMPLEADED: -------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDL.2. SIDHARTHAN, B., AGED 52, S/O.BALABHADRAN, CHEMPUVELI, SANADHANAM WARD, ALAPPUZHA. V : NO.KL-03-F 2047. ADDL.3. KABEER H.S., AGED 33, S/O.AMEERSULTHAN, KAITHAPOLAPURAYIDAM, P.H.WARD, ALAPPUZHA. KL-4-L-2840. ADDL.4. NIZAR C.M, CHINNATHOPPIL, SEAVIEW WARD, ALAPPUZHA, KL-4 D 6375. ADDL.5. M.MAJEED, S/O.ABDULHAMEED, 22/420, MUSLIYAR VALAPPU, VALIYAKULAM WARD, ALAPPUZHA. KL 4-P 8791. ADDL.6. MERCY MANUAL, AGED 36, W/O.MANUAL ANTONY, KRIPA BHAVEN, KARUKAYIL WARD, ALAPPUZHA. KL 04-3084. ADDL.7. SANGEETHA.S., D/O.SATHEESAN P.C., PANDIALAKAL, KANJIRAMCHIRA WARD, ALAPPUZHA KL 04.X 965. W.A.No.463 of 2008 -2- ADDL.8. VARGHESE P.K., AGED 42, PALACKAL HOUSE, THUMBOLY P.O., ALAPPUZHA. KL 04-W 2367. ADDL.9. BADHARUDHEEN, S/O.AHAMMEDKUNJU, 22/223, THOTTUNGAL SAKKARIYA WARD, ALAPPUZHA. KL-4 J.7267. ADDL.10. SHAKEELA, W/O.ASHRAF, THOTTATHIL VEEDU, SINDIYA PURAYEDAM, BEACH WARD, ALAPPUZHA.KL-4B 7182. ADDL.11. PAUL CHACKO, AGED 37, S/O.CHACKO, CHERUPARAMBIL, ARATTUVAZHY, ALAPPUZHA.KL 4-G 5826. ADDL.12. RATHEESHKUMAR, AGED 41, BUNGLOWPARAMBU, CANAL WARD, ALAPPUZHA KL-4-G 5863. ADDL.13. SURAJ, AGED 23, S/O.REGHU, KARIKUZHIYIL, NEAR MOONGATHODU, S.ARYAD, ALAPUZHA-6 KL-05-V-9245. ADDL.14. SAJU.M. AGED 31, S/O.MAHESWARAN, KOCHILAPARAMBIL, KALACODE, ALAPPUZHA.KL4 F-7282. ADDL.15. P.M.RAJU, AGED 46, S/O.MADHAVAN, PALACHIRA, KOMMADY, ALAPUZHA KL-04-E 6325. ADDL.16. SABU, AGED 39, S/O.VIJAYAN, VADIKATTUKIZHAKKETHIL, POONTHOPPU WARD ALAPPUZHA-KL-4L-2400. ADDL.17. SAJIMON, AGED 34, S/O.SUGATHAN, CHIRAYILVEEDU, VANASWARGAM, MUHAMMA, ALAPPUZHA-KL-4-D-7875. ADDL.18. MARIAMMA, AGED 39, W/O.ANTONY, VALIYAPURAKKAL HOUSE, KOMMADY WARD, ALAPPUZHA-KL- 4E- 4511. W.A.No.463 of 2008 -3- ADDL. 19. SHAJIMON, AGED 33, S/O.YOONUS, MOOLAPARAMBU, KANAL WARD, ALAPPUZHA KL 4-E-8024. ADDL.20. VISWANBARAN, AGED 42, S/O.GOVINDAN, VADAKKUZHIVELI, THUMBOLI, ALAPPUZHA-KL-04-3461. ADDL.21. SAIFUDHEEN, AGED 33, S/O.SHARFUDHEEN, SEDHEEK MANZIL, CHIRAYEL, ALSHERY WARD, ALAPUZHA-KL04-W-4679. ADDL.22. P.V.JOSEPH, AGED 48, S/O.P.T.VINSENT, KAITHAKULANGARA, AVALUKKUNNU P.O., A.ARYAD, ALAPUZHA-KRA 5103. ADDL.23. O.T.CHACKO, S/O.THOMAS, HOUSE NO.490, UMAPARAMBU, KAITHAVANA, SANATHANAPURAM, ALAPUZHA-KL 04-S-6674. ADDL.24. AJAYAGOSH, KALLEPPURAM, SANATHANAPURAM, ALAPUZHA KL-04-F-195. ADDL.25. SANIL. B., AGED 29, S/O.BAVA.M., 28 MADATHIL HOUSE, ALAPUZHA. KL-4-K 2270. ADDL.26. VINOD K., AGED 37, S/O.KUMARAN, PARAMBIL VEEDU, THONDANKULANGARA P.O., ALAPUZHA KL-4-D-5781. ADDL.27. SHEHEER M.S., S/O.MOHAMMED SHEREEF, 24/853, SARKKARVELI, ALASHERY WARD, ALAPUZHA. KL-04 Q. 1620. ADDL.28. NAZEER.B., YAAFYPURAYEDOM, ZAKKARIYA WARD, V.P.ROAD, ALAPUZHA.KL 04-S-3830. ADDL.29. ABDULLA SAIT, AGED 42, S/O.ABDUL SANARYAKOOB SAIT, NAVAB NIVAS, NADUVELAPARAMBU, CIVIL STATION WARD, ALAPUZHA. KL-4-G-9255. W.A.No.463 of 2008 -4- ADDL.30. AUSEPH DEVASIYA, AGED 56, S/O. JOSEPH, KEZHAKKE KUNNIL, ARATTUVAZHI WARD, ALAPUZHA. KL-4-D 8069. ADDL.31. MUJEEB.B. AGED 32, S/O.A.BAVA, KOCHUKAMBI PURAYIDAM KUTHIRAPANTHI WARD, ALAPUZHA-2. KL-4-W-1078. ADDL32. BENCY.J., AGED 34, S/O.JOY, THYVELIPARAMBU, MUNICIPAL WARD, ALAPUZHA.KL-4-D-2831. ADDL.33. DEVASYA JOSEPH, AGED 40, S/O.VARGHESE JOSEPH, KANIYAMPARAMBIL, THATHAMPALLI, ALAPUZHA.KL-04-3612. ADDL.34. SAJEER, AGED 33,S/O.MOHAMMED EBRAHIM, FATHIMA MANZIL, PLAMPARAMBIL, M.O.WARD, ALAPUZHA-KL-04-V-655. ADDL.35. JAYALAL, AGED 40,S/O.NARAYANAN, THADIKKAL VEEDU, ASRAMAM WARD, ALAPUZHA-.KL-4B-8525. ADDL.36. RADHAMMAL, AGED 45, W/O.SAKTHIVEL, BUNGLAW PARAMBU, CANAL WARD, ALAPUZHA.KL-04 D-5719. ADDL.37. SATHYANESH, AGED 52, PULICKOMPARAMBIL, NEAR Y.M.C.A., SANADHANAM WARD, ALAPUZHA-KL-04 D 8355. ADDL.38. ZACHARIA.P.C. AGED 42, S/O.MATHEW CHERIAN, 3/1088, PANDIYAKKAL, KANDATHIL POONTHOPPU WARD, ALAPUZHA.KL-4-H 67. ADDL.39. SH EELA BAI, AGED 38, W/O.JAYAKOSH, NEELIPARAMBU KOMMADY WARD, ALAPUZHA. KL-04-C-8521. ADDL.40. PRESIDENT JANASAKTHI SWAYAM SAHAYA SANGHOM UNIT, NO.38/04. LP,,ADO WARD. ALAPUZHA.VNO.KL-04-L 2342. W.A.No.463 of 2008 -5- ADDL.41. SWAYAMVARAN, AGED 55, S/O.BAVA, HOUSE NO.497, WARD NO.4, THOPPIL HOUSE, KL-04-F-9320. ADDL.42. K.B.RAVEENDRAN, AGED 51, S/O.BALAKRISHNAN, THYPARAMBIL VEEDU, CIVIL STATION WARD, ALAPUZHA.KL.04-F-9018. ADDL.43. SURESH.S., AGED 32, S/O.SANKARANKUTTY, ACKLIKATTUVELI, KALARKODE, ALAPUZHA. KL-04-E-153. ADDL.44. JACOB SEBASTIAN, AGED 53, S/O.SEBASTIAN, SOODHRAPONVELIL HOUSE, THATHAMPALLY, ALAPUZHA. KRY-7209. ADDL.45. MOHANDAS, AGED 39, S/O.THANKAPPAN, KANDATHIL, POONTHOPPU WARD, ALAPUZHA.V.NO.KL-04.S-6559. ADDL.46. JOSEPH, AGED 52, S/O.SIMON, PRIYA NIVAS, KUTTIPURAM, S.ARYAD, ALAPUZHA.KL-04-C-5866. ADDL.47. SIVASANKARAN NAIR, AGED 53, S/O. VASU PILAI, VADIKATTU WEST HOUSE, POONTHOPPU WARD, ALAPUZHA. V.NO.KL-04-D.54. ADDL.48. JOSEPH DIZOOZA, AGED 47, S/O.DIZOOZA, BLOCK NO.79, AVALUKUNNU WARD, THATHAMPALLY P.O. ALAPUZHA. KL-04-Q-1102. ADDL.49. THOMAS.K.T., AGED 67, S/O.THOMAS, POONTHOPPU VEEDU, POONTHOPPU WARD, ALAPUZHA.V.NO.KL-04-D-7309. ADDL.50. ANTONY.M.J., S/O.JOSEPH, MURINGATHU, WEST CONVENT SQUARE, VAZHICHERY WARD, ALAPUZHA.KL-04 L-9603. ADDL.51. ABDUL VAHID, AGED 32, S/O.ABDUL RAHMAN, NATHANCHIRA, SANADHANOM WARD, ALAPUZHA.KL04-D-8299. W.A.No.463 of 2008 -6- ADDL.52. NAZER.M.H. AGED 40, ARAFATH MANZIL, JILLA COURT WARD, ALAPUZHA. V.NO.KL-04-197. ADDL.53. SAJETHA K.R., W/O.A.M.RAFEEK, L.K.KAMBI ASRAMAM WARD, AVALKUNNU P.O., ALAPUZHA.KL-04-V-6327. ADDL.54. NAWFAL.M., AGED 45, S/O.MOHAMMED KUNJU, MADHEENA MANZIL, SARGA JUNGSHON, GURUPURAM, S.ARYAD, AVALUKUNNU P.O. ALAPUZHA. KL-04-D 6496. ADDL.55. THIRUMENI, PUSHPAMANGALAM, AVALUKUNNU P.O., ALAPUZAH. KL-4-C-8643. ADDL.56. AUGUSTIN JOHN, AGED 28, S/O.E.JOHN, NADUVELATHU VEEDU, VAZHICHERY WARD, ALAPUZHA.KL-4-W 2207. ADDL.57. BABU.M.K., S/O.MICEL, KOTTAPARAMBU, KOTTAMKULANGARA P.O., PUNNAMADA, ALAPUZHA.KRA-5375. ADDL.58. SHAMEER.A. S/O.ABDUL RAHEEM, KAITHAPOLAPURIDAM, POWER HOUSE WARD, ALAPUZHA.KL-4-L-2233. (ADDITIONAL APPELLANTS 2 TO 58 WERE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 16-6-2008 ON I.A.NO.522/2008). BY ADV. SRI.A.X.VARGHESE SRI.A.V.JOJO RESPONDENTS: RESPONDENTS IN WPC: ----------------------------------------------------------- 1. THE STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. W.A.No.463 of 2008 -7- 3. THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR AND REHABILITATION, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. THE TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER, TRANSPORT BHAVAN, KIZHAKKEKOTTA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 5. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, KERALA MOTOR TRANSPORT WORKERS WELFARE FUND BOARD, BEACH ROAD, KOLLAM. 6. THE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE OFFICER, KERALA MOTOR TRANSPORT WORKERS WELFARE FUND BOARD, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT. 7. THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER, ALAPPUZHA. R1 TO R4 & R7 BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT.K.MEERA. R5 & R6 BY STANDING COUNSEL SRI.P.RAMAKRISHNAN. THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 18/07/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:- H.L.Dattu, C.J. & A.K.Basheer, J. ---------------------------------------------- W.A.No.463 of 2008 ---------------------------------------------- Dated, this the 18th day of July, 2008 JUDGMENT Basheer, J. The appellants claim that they are registered owners-cum-drivers of autorickshaws being plied in and around Alappuzha. Appellants contended before the learned Single Judge that respondent No.7 - Regional Transport Officer, Alappuzha - was not justified in insisting that the appellants should pay the contribution to the Kerala Motor Transport Workers Welfare Fund Scheme, 1985 in order to enable them to remit the motor vehicles tax in respect of their vehicles. 2. We have heard learned counsel for the appellants and the learned Standing Counsel for the Board. In view of the order that we propose to pass, we do not deem it necessary to deal with the various contentions raised by the appellants and the respondents, either before the learned Single Judge or before us. 3. The primary grievance of the appellants appears to be that certain clauses contained in the Kerala Motor Transport Workers Welfare Fund Scheme 1985 as amended by the Kerala Motor Transport Workers Welfare Fund (2nd Amendment) Scheme, 2005 will put undue burden and hardship on these self employed autorickshaw drivers. According to the appellants the stipulation that motor vehicle tax shall be accepted only if contribution is paid to the Scheme is totally illegal. The learned Judge, after referring to the provisions contained in the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1976 and also to the various clauses in the Schemes referred to above, held that the Scheme was applicable in the case of the appellants also. Going by the clauses in W.A.No.463 of 2008 - 2 - those Schemes, the contention raised by the appellants does not appear to be prima facie tenable. 4. However, we do not propose to express any opinion in this regard in view of the submission made by the learned counsel for the appellants at the Bar. He submits that the appellants would be satisfied if an appropriate direction is issued to respondent No.1 to take an expeditious decision on Exhibit P4, in which the appellants have highlighted all their grievances. 5. In that view of the matter, the Writ Appeal is disposed of, with a direction to respondent No.1 to consider and pass appropriate orders on Exhibit P4 in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Needless to mention that respondent No.1 shall afford sufficient opportunity of hearing to the representative of the appellants before a final decision is taken. We make it clear that we have not taken a decision in the matter on its merits. H.L.Dattu Chief Justice A.K.Basheer Judge vku/-