IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN FRIDAY, THE 29TH JUNE 2007 / 8TH ASHADHA 1929 WP(C).No. 16665 of 2007(H) ---------------------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------------- P.JAYAKUMAR, S/O.P.V.PAULOSE, AGED 42 YEARS, PUTHETHU HOUSE, OONNUKAL P.O., KUTTAMANGALAM VILLAGE, KOTHAMANGALAM TALUK, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.K.BALACHANDRAN (PN) RESPONDENTS: ----------------------- 1. THE STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER, BEGUR FOREST RANGE, MANANTHAVADI, WAYANAD DISTRICT. BY SPL. GOVERNMENT PLEADER (FOREST) SRI. C.M.SURESH BABU THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 29/06/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. SIRI JAGAN, J. ------------------------------- W.P.(C)NO. 16665 OF 2007 ------------------------------------ DATED THIS THE 29th DAY OF JUNE, 2007 JUDGMENT The petitioner's vehicles have been proceeded against under the Kerala Forest Act for alleged violation of the Kerala Forest Act. More than a year has elapsed since the seizure. The petitioner submits that no final orders in the confiscation proceedings have yet been passed and even the Mahazars have not yet been given to the petitioner. The petitioner therefore, seeks interim custody of the vehicles pending finalisation of the confiscation proceedings. 2. The learned Government pleader submits that the petitioner has filed Ext.P6 petition before the 2nd respondent and the 2nd respondent can consider and pass orders thereon in accordance with law. 3. Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government pleader, I direct the 2nd respondent to consider Ext.P6 and pass appropriate orders thereon in accordance with the provisions of the Kerala Forest Act after affording an opportunity of being heard to the petitioner as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, W.P.(c)No.16665/07 2 within one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The writ petition is disposed of as above. S. SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE Acd