Sudharsanan v. The Sub Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

PRESENT:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON FRIDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2015/8TH PHALGUNA, 1936 WP(C).No. 24068 of 2013 (G) ---------------------------- PETITIONER :

--------------------- SUDHARSANAN, S/O.BHASKARAN, AGED 48 YEARS PRAVEEN BHAVANAM, KADAMBANAD DESOM KADAMBANAD VILLAGE, ADOOR TALUK PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT (OWNER OF JCB BEARING REGISTRATION NUMBER.TN-72-AB-6405) BY ADV. SRI.P.M.ZIRAJ RESPONDENT :

------------------------ THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, ADOOR POLICE STATION, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT PIN-691526.

BY GOVT. PLEADER SRI. M. MOHAMMED SHAFI THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 27-02-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Mn ...2/-

WP(C).No. 24068 of 2013 (G) ---------------------------------------- APPENDIX PETITIONERS' EXHIBITS :

------------------------------------- EXT. P1:

COPY OF THE FIRST INFORMATION REPORT NUMBER 1758 OF 2013 DATED 30.09.2013 OF ADOOR POLICE STATION.

EXT. P2:

COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT DATED 23.07.2013 IN WPC.NO.18247 OF 2013.

RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS : NIL ------------------------------------------------------------ //TRUE COPY// P.A. TO JUDGE Mn

P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, J.

--------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Dated this the 27th day of February, 2015

JUDGMENT

The vehicle bearing No.TN-72-AB-6405 was seized by the respondent alleging offence under the MMDR Act/KMMC Rules. The main ground of challenge is that, the respondent is not having the jurisdiction or authority to effect seizure.

2. Heard both the sides.

3. The authority of the respondent to effect seizure has already been considered by this Court and the power and competence has been upheld as per the decision reported in Aloshias C. Antony Vs. Government of Kerala [2014(1) KLT 536]. The said decision was rendered, also taking note of the nature of offence which is a 'cognizable' one (notwithstanding anything contained in the Cr.P.C) as stipulated in Section 21(6) of MMDR Act, 1957 and also placing reliance on the judgment rendered by a Division Bench of this Court in Construction

Materials Movers Association V. State of Kerala [2008 (4) KLT 909]. In the said circumstance, there is no tenable ground to call for interference.

4. When the matter came up for consideration on 03.10.2013, the vehicle was caused to be released, on satisfaction of a sum Rs.25,000/- and on execution of a simple bond. In the said circumstance, the further course of action required is to surrender the vehicle before the respondent, so as to enable the respondent to produce it before the concerned Magistrate having jurisdiction over the area and to proceed with steps for prosecution, unless the offence is sought to be compounded.

5. The petitioner expresses desire to compound the offence by virtue of the enabling provisions under the relevant provisions of law. This Court finds it fit and proper to permit the petitioner to have the offence compounded on satisfying the compounding fee of Rs.25,000/-. The amount ordered to be paid as per the interim order dated 03.10.2013 shall be treated as compounding fee and offence shall be treated as compounded. Once the offence is compounded, no prosecution proceedings will

lie in view of the law declared by this Court in Digil Vs. Sub Inspector of Police [2013(1) KLT 600]. It shall be reported to the concerned Magistrate, if the crime has already been reported. If there is any failure in compounding the offence, the respondent shall pursue further steps to seize the vehicle and proceed with steps for prosecution.

The writ petition is disposed of.

Sd/- P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, JUDGE sp