Kerala High Court
Vishal vs Deputy Excise Commissioner on 5 November, 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE MARY JOSEPH
FRIDAY, THE 5TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2021 / 14TH KARTHIKA, 1943
WP(C) NO. 10634 OF 2021
PETITIONER/PETITIONER:
VISHAL,
AGED 20 YEARS
S/O. VIDYADHARAN, KOORKAPARAMBIL HOUSE,
M.G ROAD, KUNNAMKULAM, THRISSUR DISTRICT.
BY ADV RAJIT
RESPONDENTS:
1 DEPUTY EXCISE COMMISSIONER,
EXCISE DIVISION OFFICE, CIVIL STATION,
PALAKKAD-678 001
2 DRUG DISPOSAL COMMITTEE,
PALAKKAD, EXCISE DIVISION OFFICE, CIVIL STATION,
PALAKKAD-678 001, REPRESENTED BY NODAL OFFICER.
3 STATION HOUSE OFFICER,
KOLLENGODE EXCISE RANGE,
PALAKKAD-678 506
GP SRI M.P.PRASANTH
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR FINAL HEARING ON 05.11.2021,
THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) NO.10634/2021 2
JUDGMENT
Dated this the 05th day of November, 2021.
This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution
of India, seeking for the following reliefs;
"a) Call for the records leading upto Ext-P3 and
quah Ext-P3 by issuance of a writ of certiorari or any other
appropriate writ order or direction.
b) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other
appropriate writ, order or direction commanding the
respondents 1 & 2 to consider Ext-P2 application in light of
the dictum of this Hon'ble court in Smart Logistics Vs.
State of Kerala reported in 2020 (5) KLT 298.
c) Grant such other relief deemed fit to this Hon'ble
Court."
2. Ext.P3 is an order passed by Deputy Excise
Commissioner, Palakkad, who is the 1 st respondent in the case on
hand. Petitioner has filed an application before the 1 st respondent
seeking to get the vehicle owned by him and seized from him in his
custody.
3. Ex.P3 order reads:
"മേൽ വിഷയത്തിലേക്ക് താങ്കളുടെ ശ്രദ്ധ ക്ഷണിക്കുന്നു.
കൊല്ലങ്കോട് എക്സൈസ് റേഞ്ചിലെ NDPS Cr-52/2019
കേസിലുൾപ്പെട്ട KL-46-T-4566 Bajaj Pulsar വാഹനം NDPS &
കൺവയൻസ് ഡിസ്പോസൽ കമ്മിറ്റി മുമ്പാകെ
ഹാജരാക്കിയിട്ടില്ലാത്തതാണ്. NDPS കേസിലുൾപ്പെട്ട്
പിടിച്ചെടുക്കപ്പെട്ട വാഹനം ടി വാഹനത്തിന്റെ ഉടമയ്ക്ക്
താൽക്കാലികമായോ സ്ഥിരമായോ വിട്ടുനൽകുന്നതിന് NDPS &
കൺവയൻസ് ഡിസ്പോസൽ കമ്മിറ്റിക്ക് അധികാരമില്ലാത്തതാണ്.
ആയതിനാൽ മേൽ വാഹനം വിട്ടുകിട്ടുന്നതിനുള്ള സൂചന 1
പ്രകാരമുള്ള താങ്കളുടെ അപേക്ഷ നിരസിക്കുന്നു"
4. Therefore, the reason firstly stated for dismissing the
application filed by the petitioner was that the vehicle is not
produced before the 1st respondent. The reason secondly stated was
want of jurisdiction for the NDPS & Conveyance Disposal
Committee to release the vehicle temporarily or permanently. Only
when the 1st respondent seized of the vehicle, it could act in
accordance with the directions issued in Smart Logistics supra.
The order will sustain for the reasons. Writ Petition is
dismissed.
Sd/-
MARY JOSEPH
JUDGE
JJ
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 10634/2021
PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT P1 A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 24.02.2020 IN THE COURT
OF SESSION, PALAKKAD DIVISION.
EXHIBIT P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER
BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED 28.10.2020
EXHIBIT P3 A TRUE COPY OF THE COMMUNICATION DATED 30.01.2021
