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High Court of KeralaWP(C)/8488/2015disposed of

Shibu Kumar v. District Collector

2015-03-18Honourable Mr.Justice P.R.Ramachandra Menon5 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

PRESENT:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON WEDNESDAY, THE 18TH DAY OF MARCH 2015/27TH PHALGUNA, 1936 WP(C).No. 8488 of 2015 (I) --------------------------- PETITIONER:

------------------- SHIBUKUMAR, KUNNEL HOUSE, KUNTHIRICKAL.P.O., THALAVADY, EDATHUA, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT.

BY ADV. SRI.UNNI. K.K. (EZHUMATTOOR) RESPONDENT(S):

----------------------------

1. DISTRICT COLLECTOR, ALAPUZHA - 686 101.

2. VILLAGE OFFICER, CHERUTHANA VILLAGE OFFICE, ALAPUZHA DISTRICT - 686 178.

3. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, VEEYAPURAM POLICE STATION - 686 182.

BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.K.C.VINCENT THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 18-03-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

mbr/

WP(C).No. 8488 of 2015 (I) ------------------------------------- APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS:

------------------------------------ EXHIBIT P1 :

TRUE COPY OF THE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES OF THE VEHICLE BEARING REG.NO.KL-30-2773.

EXHIBIT P2 :

TRUE COPY OF THE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES OF THE VEHICLE BEARING REG.NO.KL-4-Q-5833.

EXHIBIT P3 :

TRUE COPY OF THE MAHAZAR PREPARED BY 2ND RESPONDENT. RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS:

- NIL -------------------------------------- /TRUE COPY/ P.A. TO JUDGE mbr/

P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, J.

======================== W.P.(C). No. 8488 of 2015 -------------------------------------------- Dated this the 18th day of March, 2015

JUDGMENT

Petitioner is the owner of the vehicles bearing Reg. Nos. KL30-2773 & KL-4Q-5833, which were seized by the 2nd respondent/Village Officer alleging illegal transportation of 'Ordinary earth' in contravention of the relevant provisions of the 'MMDR Act, 1957'/'KMMC Rules. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner would like to have the offence compounded and that the above mentioned vehicles might be caused to be released after accepting the compounding fee.

2. The issue involved in this case is, whether the petitioner, who has been proceeded against in respect of the offences under the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2015 is entitled to have the offence compounded in view of the desire expressed from the part of the petitioner in this regard.

3. Heard the learned Government Pleader as well, who

W.P.C. No.8488 of 2015 -2submits that no valid pass was there. The date of the pass stated as produced was for '16.3.2015', whereas the vehicle was seized on 17.03.2015.

4. Section 23A of the 'Act' and the relevant Rules enable the parties to have the offence compounded. The Rules specifically stipulate that any offence under the Rules can be compounded subject to the satisfaction of the maximum fine prescribed under the Rules, which is stated as Rs.5,000/-. But in respect of the transportation of sand/earth without any valid pass/sanction, it is stated as an offence under the 'Act' by virtue of the incorporation of Section 4(1A), for which separate penalty is provided under the 'Act' itself. It was in the said circumstance, that this Court has passed orders enabling the parties to have interim custody of the vehicle, on satisfaction of a sum of Rs.25,000/-, also directing the concerned respondent to consider the application for compounding, if any.

5. A question arose before this Court as to whether the prosecution proceedings could be pursued further, once the offence is compounded in accordance with the relevant provisions. This issue has already been considered and decided

W.P.C. No.8488 of 2015 -3by this Court in 2013 (1) KLT 600 ( Digil v. Sub Inspector of Police), holding that, once the offence is compounded, there cannot be any further prosecution proceedings.

6. In view of the willingness expressed from the part of the petitioner to have the offence compounded, conceding the guilt, this Court finds it fit and proper to direct the 2nd respondent to compound the offence, if the petitioner satisfies a sum of Rs. 25,000/- in respect of each vehicle. It is ordered accordingly. On satisfaction of the compounding fee, the vehicles mentioned above shall be released to the petitioner forthwith. It is made clear that once the offence alleged against the petitioner is compounded, no prosecution proceedings shall be pursued against him.

The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. The petitioner shall produce a copy of this judgment along with a copy of this writ petition before the concerned respondent for further steps. P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, JUDGE.

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