Indus Towers Ltd. & Shibu Mathew v. S.I. of Police Cherpulassery & Others

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** **PRESENT :** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R.BASANT & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.SURENDRA MOHAN** **FRIDAY, THE 24TH JUNE 2011 / 3RD ASHADHA 1933** **WP(C).No. 22278 of 2010(H)** **----------------------------------** ## **PETITIONER(S):** - **-------------------** **1. INDUS TOWERS LTD.,CIRCLE OFFICE AT: VANKARATH TOWERS, 8TH FLOOR, NH-47, PALARIVATTOM, KOCHI-24, REP. BY ITS HEAD-LEGAL, PREMAKRISHNAN NAIR.** **2. SHIBU MATHEW, S/O.MATHEW,PALATHARA HOUSE, THURUTHY P.O., CHANGANASSERY, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, (PARTNER, PALATHARA CONSTRUCTIONS, CHANGANACHERRY).** **BY ADV. SRI.V.PHILIP MATHEW** ## **RESPONDENT(S):** - **---------------------** **1. THE S.I. OF POLICE, CHERPULASSERY, PALAKKAD-678 001.** **2. THE C.I. OF POLICE, CHERPULASSERY, PALAKKAD-678 001.** **3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, PALAKKAD-678 001.** **4. CHERPULASSERY GRAMA PANCHAYATH, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT - 679 503, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY.** **5. FAIZAL, USAAM KUNJIMANAKATHU, CHERPULASSERY, PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **6. AYISHA, USAAM KUNJIMANAKATHU, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **7. SEENATH, ODUVANKATTIL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **.........2/-...** **svs** **...2...** **WPC.NO.22278/2010** **8. NABEESA, ODUVANKATTIL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **9. IBRAHIM, ODUVANKATTIL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **10. AKBAR, USAAM KUNJIMANAKATHU, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **11. HASEENA HASIM, USAAM KUNJIMANAKATHU, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **12. FATHIMA, KALLURACKAL HOUSE, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **13. SAINUDEEN, KALLURACKAL HOUSE, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **14. JAYAPRAKASH, KUNDIL HOUSE, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **15. PADMANABHAN MASTER, MUNDEKOTTUKALATHIL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **16. VENGALOOR RAMANKUTTY, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **17. PRABHAKARAN, KOLPATTIL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **18. RADHAKRISHNAN, MUNDEKOTTUKALATHIL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **19. RIYAS THOTTINGAL, SECRETARY, VYAPARI VEVASAYI SAMITHI, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **20. RAMANKUTTY, "ATHIRA", PATHAAM MILE, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **21. DAMODARAN, MUNDEKOTTUKALATHIL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **22. MADHUMOHAN K., KOLPATTIL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **23. SREENIVASAN, CHUNGATH, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **svs** **............3/-.......** **...3...** ## **WPC.NO.22278/2010** **24. GOPALAKRISHNAN, KALAMMALLIKKODIYATHU, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **25. NARAYANANKUTTY, PANANGATTU MELETHIL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT.** **26. IQBAL, NECHIKKATTIL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **27. GAFOOR, PULATHARACKAL, CHERPULASSERY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT- 679 503.** **28. STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, KERALA GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.** *** 29. UNION OF INDIA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY,MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND IT,DEPARTMENT OF TELE COMMUNICATIONS,SANCHAR BHAVAN, 20, ASHOKA ROAD,NEW DELHI-110001.(DELETED)** *** 29TH RESPONDENT DELETED FROM THE ARRAY OF PARTIES AS PER ORDER DATED 24/06/2011 IN I.A. NO.882/2011 IN WPC NO.22278/2010.** **R1 TO R3, R28 BY GOVT. PLEADER SMT.C.M.CHARISMA R8 & 13 BY ADV. SRI.V.K.BALACHANDRAN R5-7,9-12,R15,18,20,23-24,R26-27 BY ADV. SRI.LATHEESH SEBASTIAN R29 BY ADV. SHRI.C.K.JAYAKUMAR, CGC** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 24/06/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** **svs** ## **W.P.(C). NO. 22278/2010** ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS:** ## **P1: COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION ISSUED BY THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES, NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI AND HARYANA.** - **P2: COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE FOR COMMENCEMENT OF BUSINESS ISSUED BY THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES, NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI AND HARYANA.** - **P3: COPY OF THE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE NO.177/2008 DATED 10/01/2008 ISSUED BYTHE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT, DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS.** - **P4: COPY OF FRESH CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION CONSEQUENT UPON CHANG EOF NAME ISSUED BY THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES, NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI AND HARYANA.** **P4(a):COPY OF EXHIBIT P4.** - **P5: COPYC COF THE COMMUNICATION SEND BY THE DIRECTOR (C.S.-III) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & ITM DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS, NEW DELHI.** - **P6: COPY OF BUILDING PERMIT NO.248/09-10 DATED 09/12/2009 ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT PANCHAYAT TO FIRST PETITIONER.** - **P7: COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 02/07/2010 SUBMITTED BY PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT.** - **P8: COPY OF RECEIPT DATED 03/02/2010 ISSUED FROM THE OFFICE OF 1ST RESPONDENT.** - **P9: COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED O2/07/2010 SUBMITTED BY THE 2ND PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT.** - **P10: COPY OF RECEIPT DATED 03/07/2010 ISSUED FROM THE OFFICE OF 2ND RESPONDENT.** - **P11: COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 16/06/2010 PASSED BY THE SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE, OTTAPPALAM.** - **P12: COPY OF THE REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE BEFORE THE GOVERNEMNT.** **svs** **...........2/-...** **...2...** ## **WPC. NO.22278/2010** - **P13: COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 11/09/2006 ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL CANCER CENTRE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM TO KUDAPPANAKUNNU GRAMA PANCHAYAT.** - **P14: COPY OF THE LETTER NO.T8/89000/2006 DATED 30/10/2006.** - **P15: COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 07/08/2010 PASSED BY SUB COURT, OTTAPPALAM IN I.A. NO.1802/2010 IN O.S. NO.227/2010.** ## **RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS:** - **R8(a):COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 15/10/2010 IN I.A. NO.2130/2010 IN O.A. NO.370 OF 2010 PENDING BEFORE THE MUNSIFF'S COURT, OTTAPPALAM.** - **R13(a):COPY OF THE PLAINT IN O.S.NO.227 OF 2010 PENDING BEFORE THE SUB COURT, OTTAPPALAM.** - **R13(b):COPY OF THE PETITION FOR TEMPORARY INJUNCTION FILED AS I.A.NO.1802 OF 2010 IN EXT.R13(a)CASE.** - **R29(a):COPIES OF THE RELEVANT WORK SHEET PUBLISHED ON MAY 2006 IN THE INTERNET BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.** - **R29(b):COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE ON “HEALTH HAZARDS DUE TO MOBILE PHONE TOWERS”, MEETING HELD ON 29/05/2006 AT ICMR HQRS. OFFICE ALONG WITH THE COVERING LETTER NO.DO.NO.30011/6/2006 DATED 09/06/2006 ISSUED BY THE JOINT SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE.** - **R29(c):COPY OF THE LETTER NO.842-998/2008-AS-IV/14 DATED 09/11/2008 ISSUED BY THE 9TH RESPONDENT.** **/TRUE COPY/** ## **P.A. TO JUDGE.** **svs** ## **R. BASANT & K. SURENDRA MOHAN, JJ.** ........................................... W.P.(C).NO.22278 OF 2010 ............................................. Dated this the 24[th] day of June, 2011. ## **JUDGMENT** ## **Basant, J:** The petitioners have come to this Court seeking issue of directions under Article 226 of the Constitution to respondents 1 to 3 to afford police protection for the petitioners for the construction of a mobile tower in accordance with Ext.P6 regular permit issued by the panchayat against illegal obstructions raised by respondents 5 to 27. 2. According to the petitioners, they have Ext.P6 permit to undertake the construction. It is a regular permit. It remains valid. No one has challenged the validity of the permit issued. Respondents 5 to 27 are raising illegal obstruction against the construction of the tower. In these circumstances, it is prayed that appropriate directions may be issued to enable the petitioners to undertake the construction as per Ext. P6 building permit issued by the 4[th] respondent. W.P.(C).NO.22278 OF 2010 : 2 : 3. Respondents 8 and 13 have filed counter affidavits. Today when the matter came up for hearing, there is no representation for any of the party respondents. 4. Our attention has been drawn to **Essar Telecom Infrastructure (P) Ltd. v. C.I. of Police** (2010 (2) KLT 782) and **Essar Telecom Infrastructure (P) Ltd. v. State of Kerala** (2011 (2) KHC 171). 5. Some of the party respondents have raised objection that the property belonging to the parties where tower is sought to be erected belongs to co-owners and all co-owners have not granted assent for the construction of the tower. Counsel for the petitioners brings to our notice the order dated 24.2.2011 in I.A. No.211/2011 in O.S.NO.370/2010 passed by the Munsiff Court, Ottapalam where under other co-owners have been injuncted from raising any obstruction to the construction of the mobile tower. We are satisfied that the petitioners are entitled to directions as prayed for. 6. In the result: - a. This petition is allowed. - b. Respondents 1 to 3 are directed to afford police ## W.P.(C).NO.22278 OF 2010 : 3 : protection to the petitioners to undertake the construction of mobile tower in accordance with Ext.P6 permit issued by the 4[th] respondent panchayat against obstruction, if any raised by respondents 5 to 27. c. Needless to say, the direction hereby issued shall be subject to all observations and conditions in Essar Telecom Infrastructure (P) Ltd. v. State of Kerala (2011 (2) KHC 171) **Sd/= R. BASANT, JUDGE.** **Sd/=** **K. SURENDRA MOHAN, JUDGE.** **cl /true copy/** **P.S. to Judge.**