High Court of KeralaWP(C)/27501/2015disposed of

George Kuruvila v. State Of Kerala

2015-09-11Honourable Mr. Justice A.Muhamed Mustaque5 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

PRESENT:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE FRIDAY, THE 11TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2015/20TH BHADRA, 1937 WP(C).No. 27501 of 2015 (K) ---------------------------- PETITIONER(S):

-------------------------- GEORGE KURUVILA, S/O.KURUVILA, AGED 40 YEARS, NEDUMBRA HOUSE, KAROOR MURI, PONATTU, NEDUMKUNNAM VILLAGE, CHANGANASSERRY TALUK, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT.

BY ADV. SRI.AJITH MURALI.

RESPONDENT(S):

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

1. THE STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001.

2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KOTTAYAM, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT-686 001.

3. THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, KOTTAYAM, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT-686 001.

4. THE VILLAGE OFFICER, NEDUMKUNNAM VILLAGE, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT-686 001.

5. THE SECRETARY, NEDUMKUNNAM GRAMA PANCHAYATH, CHANGANASSERRY TALUK, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT-686 001.

6. THE SENIOR GEOLOGIST, DEPARTMENT OF MINING AND GEOLOGY, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT-686 001.

BY GOVT. PLEADER SMT.C.K. SHERIN.

THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 11-09-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

rs.

WP(C).No. 27501 of 2015 (K) APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS:- EXT.P1 COPY OF THE PERMIT/ NOC NO.A2-2402/2015 DATED 12/05/2015 ISSUED BY THE 5TH RESPONDENT, SECRETARY OF NEDUMKUNNAM GRAMA PANCHAYATH.

RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS:- NIL.

//TRUE COPY// P.S. TO JUDGE rs.

A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE, J.

================== W.P.(C).No. 27501 of 2015 ================== Dated this the 11th day of September, 2015

J U D G M E N T

The case of the petitioner is that, on the strength of Ext.P1 Building Permit, the petitioner levelled the property by removing ordinary earth for construction of a residential building. But when the petitioner approached the 6st respondent, Geologist with a request for issuance of Mineral Transit pass to transport the earth from his property, it was refused to be acted upon.

2. Heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader.

3. By virtue of Rule 14 of the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2015 the persons doing construction of residential building including flats or commercial buildings having a plinth area upto 300 square metres are exempted from obtaining quarrying permit under the Rules, if the owner of the land has obtained a prior valid permit for construction of such building from the concerned Local Self Government authority. The said Rule reads

W.P.(C).No. 27501 of 2015 - : 2 :- as follows:

"14. Quarrying permit for Ordinary earth: (1) A quarrying permit under these rules shall be obtained for extraction of ordinary earth used for filling or levelling purposes in construction of embankments, roads, railways or buildings in Form N:

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), no quarrying permit is required under these rules for extraction of ordinary earth in connection with the construction of residential buildings including flats or commercial buildings having a plinth area of 300 square metres if the owner of the land obtained a prior valid permit for construction of such building from the Local Self Government authorities concerned;

Provided that in cases where transportation of ordinary earth is required, the owner shall pay royalty for the quantity to be transported and shall obtain mineral transit passes under the Kerala State Minerals (Prevention of illegal mining, storage and transportation) Rules, 2015 from the competent authority;

Provided further that the competent authority shall not issue mineral transit passes for removal of ordinary earth exceeding the quantity needed to be extracted, as ascertained by it through a site inspection." 4.

In the above facts and circumstances, 6th respondent/District Geologist is directed to issue 'Mineral Transit Pass' in Form O(A) of the Kerala Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Storage and Transportation) Rules, 2015 (for brevity "Prevention Act"], on being satisfied with the genuineness of the claim of the petitioner based on Exhibit P1 Building permit, without insisting for 'NOC'/Mining permit; in accordance with law, which shall be done at the earliest at any rate within two weeks from the

W.P.(C).No. 27501 of 2015 - : 3 :- date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The petitioner shall produce a copy of this judgment along with a copy of the writ petition before the 6th respondent/District Geologist for further steps.

The writ petition is disposed of.

sd/- sab A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE, JUDGE