Natesan v. The Revenue Divisional Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 10.11.2020

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE Natesan ... Petitioner Vs 1.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai.

2.The Assistant Director, Mines and Minerals Department, Pudukkottai District.

3.The Inspector of Police, Alangudi Police Station, Pudukkottai District.

... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents to release the petitioner's vehicle i.e., Tractor & Trailer bearing Registration No.TN 49 AX 6743, seized by the third respondent on 04.08.2020 on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 31.10.2020.

For Petitioner :

Mr.D.Rameshkumar For Respondents :

Mr.M.Rajarajan, Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

(This Petition was heard through Video Conferencing) This writ petition has been filed for a Mandamus seeking for a direction to direct the respondents to release the petitioner's vehicle viz., Tractor and Trailer bearing Registration No.TN 49 AX 6743.

2.Mr.M.Rajarajan, learned Additional Government Pleader, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents. By consent of both parties, the Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

3.It is the case of the petitioner that he is the owner of the Tractor and Trailer bearing Registration No.TN 49 AX 6743. According to the petitioner, on 04.08.2020, the third respondent seized the vehicle and registered a case against the petitioner in Crime No.579 of 2020 for the offence punishable under Section 379 I.P.C. and 1/3

Sections 21(1), 21(2) of the Mines and Minerals (Developmnet and Regulation)Act, 1957 alleging that the petitioner has transported river sand without proper invoices. According to the petitioner, ever since the seizure, the said vehicle is still in the custody of the third respondent Police.

4.It is also the contention of the petitioner that the vehicle has also not been produced by the third respondent Police before the concerned Jurisdictional Court. According to him, the seized vehicle is now kept idle in the Police Station premises in the open place and exposed to the vagaries of nature, resulting in the vehicle depreciating in value.

5.According to the petitioner, he gave a representation to the respondents on 31.10.2020 for releasing of the seized vehicle back to him. According to him, the respondents failed to respond to the said representation. In such circumstances, he has filed this Writ Petition seeking for release of the seized vehicle. 6.Admittedly, the vehicle was seized by the third respondent on 04.08.2020 and a case has been registered by the third respondent Police against the petitioner in Crime No.579 of 2020, for the offence punishable under Section 379 I.P.C. and Sections 21(1), 21

(2) of the Mines and Minerals (Developmnet and Regulation)Act, 1957 alleging that the petitioner has transported sand without proper invoices. Admittedly, the vehicle is now in the Police Station premises and kept in the open place and exposed to the vagaries of nature and the vehicle has also not been produced before the Jurisdictional Court.

7.As rightly contended by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, the vehicle will certainly depreciate in value, if it is allowed to remain in the open place and kept idle for a long period of time. No useful purpose will be served if the vehicle is allowed to be kept idle. In similar matters, this Court has granted release of seized vehicle to the respective petitioners subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. Therefore, this Court is inclined to grant similar relief to the petitioner subject to fulfillment of the following conditions:- (i)the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/-(Rupees Fifty Thousand only) in favour of the first respondent within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

(ii)the petitioner shall not alienate or encumber the vehicle in question till the proceedings are completed. (iii)the petitioner shall not change the colour and scheme of the vehicle.

(iv)the petitioner shall not use the vehicle for any illegal activities.

(v)before releasing the vehicle, the police 2/3

authority shall take photographs of the vehicle at the cost of the petitioner.

(vi)The petitioner shall produce all xerox copies of the documents pertaining to the ownership of the seized vehicle to the first respondent.

(vii)As and when the respondents call for the vehicle for enquiry, the petitioner has to produce the vehicle in question and he shall cooperate with the enquiry to be conducted by the respondents.

8.Upon completion of the above mentioned formalities, the respondents shall release the petitioner's Tractor and Trailer bearing Registration No.TN 49 AX 6743, to the petitioner forthwith and without any delay. If this undertaking given by the petitioner is breached, the petitioner will not be entitled for interim release of the vehicle in the future.

9.The Writ Petition is disposed of, accordingly. There shall be no order as to costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CO) // True Copy // / /2020 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) gns Note:In view of the present lock down owing to COVID-19 pandemic, a web copy of the order may be utilized for official purposes, but, ensuring that the copy of the order that is presented is the correct copy, shall be the responsibility of the Advocate/litigant concerned.

To 1.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Pudukkottai District,Pudukkottai.

2.The Assistant Director, Mines and Minerals Department,Pudukkottai District. 3.The Inspector of Police, Alangudi Police Station,Pudukkottai District. +1 CC to M/s.GP ( SR-21894[F] dated 11/11/2020 ) 10.11.2020 VR(CO) AP(20/11/2020) 3P 5C 3/3