Citation : 2023 Latest Caselaw 7060 Ker
Judgement Date : 23 June, 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN
FRIDAY, THE 23RD DAY OF JUNE 2023 / 2ND ASHADHA, 1945
WP(C) NO. 15717 OF 2023
PETITIONER:
SEBASTIAN K.D
AGED 48 YEARS
S/O DEVASSYA,
KAPPIYANGAL HOUSE,
MALOM VILLAGE,
VELLIKKUNDU TALUK,
PARAMBA P.O, KASARGOD DISTRICT, PIN - 671533
BY ADV B.SABITHA (DESOM)
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,
DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001
2 THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER (D.F.O.)
SOUTH WAYANAD DIVISION,
PINANGOD ROAD,
DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICE,
KALPETTA, PIN - 673121
3 THE FOREST RANGE OFFICER
BEGUR RANGE, MANANTHAVADY, PIN - 670645
4 ADDL.R4 : T.P JOSEPH, AGED 60 YEARS,
S/O T.P PONNUS, THUNDUPARAMBIL HOUSE,
MUNDERI, KALPATTA P.O.,
VAITHIRI TALUK,
WAYANAD DISTRICT - 673 121
5 ADDL R5 : T.P. ALAX, AGED 58 YEARS,
S/O T.P PONNUS, THUNDUPARAMBIL HOUSE,
MUNDERI, KALPATTA P.O.,
VAITHIRI TALUK, WAYANAD DISTRICT - 673 121
(ARE IMPLEADED AS ADDITIONAL RESPONDENTS 4 AND 5 IN THE
WP(C) NO.15717 OF 2023
2
WRIT PETITION AS PER ORDER DATED 23.06.2023
IN I.A NO.1/2023)
BY ADVS.
SRI.T.P.SAJAN, SPECIAL GOVERNMENT PLEADER
SRI.P.SAJU - R4 & R5
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 23.06.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) NO.15717 OF 2023
3
P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J.
------------------------------
W.P.(C)No.15717 of 2023
----------------------------------------------
Dated this the 23rd day of June, 2023
JUDGMENT
The above writ petition is filed with the following
prayers:
"(a) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other Writ, Order or direction directing the 3 rd respondent to allow the petitioner to transport the timbers from the property as per the Ext.P3-P6 passes issued by the 3rd respondent.
(b) This Hon'ble Court may be pleased to dispense with filing of the English translation of vernacular documents as per order dated 04.08.2022, and
(c) Issue such other writ, order or direction as this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper to grant in the facts and circumstances of the case."[SIC]
2. It is submitted that the petitioner as per WP(C) NO.15717 OF 2023
sale agreement between the additional respondents
Nos.4 and 5, obtained the right to cut down the trees
situated at their land comprising in an area of 8.2800
Hector in Thirunelli Village, Block No.1. It is
submitted that, as per order No.B.2.1301/2022 dated
07.03.2023 and order No.B.2.1300/2022 dated
08.03.2023, the 3rd respondent has given permission
to additional respondent Nos.4 and 5, who are the
owners of the properties, to cut down the trees and
subsequently the passes have been issued by the 3 rd
respondent to additional respondents 4 and 5 to
transfer the timbers from the property. When the
petitioner started to cut the trees on 15.03.2023, the
petitioner was unable to transport the timbers from
the property because of the obstruction from the 3 rd
respondent. It is submitted that the petitioner is only
removing the trees for which permit and pass is WP(C) NO.15717 OF 2023
issued. Hence this writ petition is filed.
3. Heard the learned counsel appearing for
the petitioner, the learned Government Pleader and
the learned counsel appearing for respondent Nos. 4
and 5.
4. Counsel for the petitioner reiterated the
contentions raised in this writ petition. The
Government Pleader filed a statement in which it is
stated that the persons to whom the permission was
granted to cut and remove the trees are not in the
party array. Now, an impleading petition is filed and
they are impleaded as additional respondent Nos. 4
and 5. The counsel appearing for respondents 4 and
5 submitted that, there is an agreement with the
petitioner and as per the agreement, the petitioner
was allowed to cut and remove the trees as per the
pass and permit issued. In the light of the above WP(C) NO.15717 OF 2023
submission, this writ petition can be allowed.
Therefore, this writ petition is allowed in the
following manner:
i. There will be a direction to the 3rd
respondent to allow the petitioner to transport
the timbers from the property as per Exts.P3 to
P6 passes issued by the 3rd respondent and there
shall not be any obstruction from the side of the
3rd respondent or from his officers, if the timber is
transported strictly based on Exts.P3 to P6
passes.
Sd/-
P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN DM JUDGE WP(C) NO.15717 OF 2023
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 15717/2023
PETITIONER EXHIBITS EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.
B.2.1301/22 DATED 7.3.2023 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.
B.2.1300/22 DATED 8.3.2023 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE PASS NO. 7/2023-24 DATED 18.4.2023 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE PASS NO. 15/2023-
24 DATED 20.4.2023 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF THE PASS NO. 13/2023-
24 DATED 20.4.2023 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE PASS NO. 14/2023-
24 DATED 20.4.2023 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT RESPONDENT ANNEXURES ANNEXURE R3(A) TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT DATED 28.4.2023 .
ANNEXURE R3(B) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.B2 1300/2022 DATED 3.5.2023 OF RFO BEGUR ANNEXURE R3(C) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.B2 1301/2022 DATED 3.5.2023 OF RFO BEGUR WP(C) NO.15717 OF 2023
ANNEXURE R3(D) TRUE COPY OF THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . ANNEXURE R3(E) TRUE COPY OF THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .
RESPONDENTS EXHIBITS : NIL
//TRUE COPY// PA TO JUDGE
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