A.Senthil Jeyaraj, v. The District Collector,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 31.07.2018

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH W.P.(MD) No.16925 of 2018 A.Senthil Jeyaraj ... Petitioner vs.

1.The District Collector Trichy District, Trichy 2.The Revenue Divisional Officer Trichy, Trichy District 3.The Tahsildar Srirengam Taluk Srirengam Trichy District ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to release the petitioner's vehicle Ashok Leyland-Tipper Lorry bearing its registration No.TN22 AZ8847.

For Petitioner :

Mr.N.Pragalathan For Respondents :

Mr.V.Anand Government Advocate

O R D E R

Mr.V.Anand, learned Government Advocate, takes notice for the respondents.

2. By consent of both parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.

3. The petitioner seeks for a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to release his vehicle, namely, Ashok Leyland-Tipper Lorry bearing registration No.TN22 AZ8847, seized on 21.06.2018 by the third respondent.

4. According to the petitioner, even though he had plied the aforesaid vehicle with all relevant documents, the third respondent has seized the vehicle.

5. On the other hand, it is submitted by the learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents that the vehicle was seized as the same was plied without valid papers, including registration certificate books and transport permits for transporting sand.

6. In any event, as the vehicle is under the custody of the third respondent having been seized on 21.06.2018 and considering the fact that if the same is allowed to be kept idle by exposing the same to sun and rain, it would certainly diminish its value. Therefore, pending proceedings before the respondents, this Court is of the view that the vehicle can be released by imposing certain conditions on the petitioner for release of the aforesaid vehicle.

7. Accordingly, the second respondent is directed to release the vehicle in question to the petitioner within a period of seven days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order subject to the following conditions:

"(i) The petitioner shall produce documents before the second respondent to establish the ownership of the vehicle in question;

(ii) The petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees fifty thousand only) for the vehicle before the second respondent herein;

(iii) The petitioner shall give an undertaking that he will not use the vehicle for any illegal activities in future and shall produce the same as and when required by the respondents;

(iv) On doing so, the vehicle in question shall be returned to the petitioner;

(v) The petitioner shall not alienate the vehicle in question till the disposal of the proceedings before the authority concerned;

(vi) The second respondent is directed to complete the enquiry within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order; and (vii) The petitioner is also directed to participate in the enquiry to be conducted by the second respondent."

8. The writ petition is ordered accordingly. No costs. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS-III) /True Copy/ Sub Assistant Registrar(CS-IV)

To:

1.The District Collector, Trichy District, Trichy.

2.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Trichy, Trichy District.

3.The Tahsildar, Srirengam Taluk, Srirengam, Trichy District.

+1cc to M/S.N.Pragalathan, Advocate SR.No. 76002 +1cc to Special Government Pleader, SR.No. 76221 W.P.(MD) No.16925 of 2018 31.07.2018 krk JM/SKN RSK/SAR 4/07.08.2018/3P/6C