High Court of KeralaDivision BenchWrit petition disposed; directions issued for p...

MANOJ E. EDASSERIPARAMBU v. JOHNSON JOSEPH, SAJAN THOMAS, MARTIN JOSEPH, JOJI JAMES, K.M. ANTONY, SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CHANGANACHERRY POLICE STATION, CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CHANGANACHERRY POLICE STATION, THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, KOTTAYAM-686 001

Case / Petition Number:WP(C).No. 28454 of 2011 (F)

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • Pius C. KuriaKose
  • K. Harilal
Judgment Date
2011-11-09
Court Decision / Holding
We dispose of this writ petition directing respondents 6 to 8 to render adequate police protection to the petitioner for collection of market fees from the various vendors in Changanacherry fish market other than respondents 2,3,4 and 5 if there is obstruction by those vendors in the matter of collection of due market fee from them. If respondent-petitioner reports outside-building sales by respondents 2–5, an inquiry will be conducted and, if verified, necessary action will follow to prevent such selling. The interim order in W.P.(C) No.29271/2011 remains applicable and must be obeyed.
Final Disposition
Writ petition disposed; directions issued for police protection to collect market fees from vendors other than respondents 2–5, with an enquiry if there is a verified violation of selling outside the permitted premises; interim order remains in force to the extent stated.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Manoj E. Edasseriparambu

Respondents

  • Johnson Joseph
  • Sajan Thomas
  • Martin Joseph
  • Joji James
  • K.M.Antony
  • Sub Inspector of Police, Changanacherry Police Station
  • Circle Inspector of Police, Changanacherry Police Station
  • The District Superintendent of Police, Kottayam

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • M.P. Madhavankutty

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Anil K. Narendran
  • • Sabu S. Kallaramoola
  • • S. Nidheesh
  • • M.K. ABOOBACKER

Case Synopsis & Summary

This writ petition is filed by Manoj E. challenging obstruction by the Merchants’ Association (respondents 1–5) in collecting market fees from vendors at the Changanacherry fish market, pursuant to Ext.P2, which granted him the right to collect tolls. The petition traces the basis to Ext.P1, a judgment in W.P.(C) No.11588/2011, which obliged the Municipality to issue Ext.P2. The Merchants’ Association has also challenged Ext.P1 via W.A. No.1559/2011. The petitioner seeks a mandamus and police protection from respondents 6–8 to safeguard his person and property and to ensure collection of market fees. Respondents deny any illegality or threat and contend there is no warrant for police protection; they point to an interim order in W.P.(C) No.29271/2011 that stayed collection in certain circumstances. The court notes these rival claims and interim orders, emphasizing obedience to the interim order while considering relief. Ultimately, the court holds that while the interim order persists, the petitioner is not entitled to full relief, but directs respondents 6–8 to provide adequate police protection for collecting market fees from vendors other than respondents 2–5, with an enquiry if the petitioner’s allegation of outside-building sales is proven, to prevent unlawful obstruction.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 458

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioner contends that Ext.P2 confers the right to collect market fees from the Changanacherry fish market and that the Merchants’ Association (respondents 1–5) obstruct him and threaten dire consequences if he enters the market. Relying on Ext.P1 in W.P.(C) No.11588/2011, he argues the Municipality was obligated to issue Ext.P2, and that interim relief in W.P.(C) No.29271/2011 has been stayed in certain aspects, thus warranting police protection and mandamus to secure collection from vendors. The interim order, issued after hearing, must be obeyed, and the court should safeguard revenue collection pending resolution of the appeal.

Contentions of Respondents

Respondents deny any illegality or threat; they assert no basis for police protection and indicate their intent to comply with law and not obstruct lawful collection by the petitioner. They point to the interim order in W.P.(C) No.29271/2011, which stayed some collection, and emphasize that the enforcement of Ext.P2 should await the outcome of the interim order and further inquiry into alleged violations, such as selling outside the building. They advocate obedience to legal processes and seek to avoid extraneous prerogatives in police protection while the matter is under adjudication.

Cited Precedents (2)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Boban Thomas v. Kottayam Municipality2010 (1) KLT 954Mentioned OnlyCited to support the concept that public markets are liable for payment of market fees; not expressly adopted or distinguished in the decision.
W.P.(C).No.29271/2011W.P.(C).No.29271/2011PositiveInterim order relied upon by the court; the final disposition requires obedience to this interim order and conditions the relief granted.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** **PRESENT :** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PIUS C.KURIAKOSE & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.HARILAL** **WEDNESDAY, THE 9TH NOVEMBER 2011 / 18TH KARTHIKA 1933** **WP(C).No. 28454 of 2011(F)** **----------------------------------------** ## **PETITIONER(S):** **----------------------** **MANOJ.E.J, EDASSERIPARAMBU HOUSE, CHANGANACHERRY P.O., (FISH MARKET AREA), CHANGANACHERRY.** **BY ADV. SRI.M.P.MADHAVANKUTTY** ## **RESPONDENT(S):** **------------------------** ## **1. JOHNSON JOSEPH,** **PLANTHOTTAM HOUSE, PERUNNA EAST KARA, CHANGANACHERRY-686 101.** ## **2. SAJAN THOMAS,** **KOYIPPALLY HOUSE, KAVALA, CHANGANACHERRY-686 101.** ## **3. MARTIN JOSEPH,** **KOYIPPALLY HOUSE, KURISUMMOODU, CHANGANACHERRY-686 101.** ## **4. JOJI JAMES,** **KODUPPUNAPLACKAL HOUSE, POTHODU, CHANGANACHERRY-686 101.** ## **5. K.M.ANTONY,** **KODUPUNNA POLACKAL, PUZHAVATHU, CHANGANACHERRY-686 101.** **6. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CHANGANACHERRY POLICE STATION, KOTTAYAM-686 101.** **tss** ## **W.P.(C) NO.28454/2011** **7. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CHANGANACHERRY POLICE STATION-686 101.** ## **8. THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE,** **KOTTAYAM-686 001.** **R1 TO R5 BY ADVS. SRI.ANIL K.NARENDRAN , SRI.SABU S.KALLARAMOOLA , SRI.S.NIDHEESH.** **R6 TO R8 BY SR. GOVT. PLEADER SRI.M.K.ABOOBACKER** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 09/11/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** **tss** ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER(S) EXHIBITS** **P1:- TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGEMENT DATED 16.8.2011 IN WP(C) NO.11588/2011 BEFORE THIS HON'BLE COURT.** ## **P2:- TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER BEARING NUMBER R5-218/11(A).** **P3:- TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BEFORE THE 6TH RESPONDENT.** ## **P4:- TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT.** ## **RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS** **R1(a):- COPY OF THE LAND TAX RECEIPT.** **R1(b):- COPY OF THE PROPERTY TAX RECEIPT.** **R1(c):- COPY OF THE PROPERTY TAX RECEIPT.** **R1(d):- COPY OF THE OBJECTION FILED BY MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.** **R1(e):- COPY OF THE DECISION OF THE COUNCIL DTD. 29.8.2011.** **R1(f):- COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECRETARY DTD. 1.4.2011.** **TRUE COPY** **P.A. TO JUDGE** **tss** **PIUS C.KURIAKOSE & K. HARILAL, JJ. -----------------------W.P.(C).No.28454 OF 2011 ------------------------** Dated this the 9th day of November, 2011 ## **JUDGMENT** Pius C.Kuriakose, J. The petitioner, who has been granted the right to collect market fees from the Changanacherry fish market, has filed this writ petition alleging that the respondents 1 to 5, who are the functionaries of the Merchants' Association, are obstructing him from collecting the market fees in terms of Ext.P2 order under which the right to collect market fees was granted to him. The petitioner states that it was pursuant to Ext.P1 judgment in W.P. (C) No.11588/2011 filed by him that the Municipality became obliged to issue Ext.P2 order. It is pointed out that the Merchants' Association has preferred writ appeal as W.A. No. 1559/2011 challenging Ext.P1 judgment which even now pending. The petitioner alleges that respondents No.s 1 to 5 are threatening the petitioner that they will not permit him to collect toll fee and if the petitioner dares to enter into the fish WPC.No.28454/2011 2 market, he will have to face dire consequences. Following are the reliefs sought for in this writ petition; i). to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondents 6 to 8 to provide adequate and sufficient police protection for the person and property of the petitioner from the illegal threats of the respondents 1 to 5 and their henchmen. ii). to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondents 6 to 8 to provide adequate and sufficient police protection to the petitioner for collecting toll fee from the Changanacherry Fish Market. 2. Respondents 1 to 5 have filed a detailed counter affidavit through the 3rd respondent. Along with the counter affidavit, documents Exts.R1 (a) to R1(f) are produced. It is contended that there is no warrant at all for issuance of police protection directions as the respondents are not indulging in any illegality. There is no threat at all to the life of the petitioner or for any lawful conduct of business by the petitioner. WPC.No.28454/2011 3 3. We Heard Sri.M.P.Madhavankutty learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri.Anil K.Narendran learned counsel for the party respondents. 4. Mr.Madhavankutty would draw our attention to the judgment of this court Boban Thomas v. Kottayam Municipality (2010 (1) KLT 954) and submit that the Changanacherry fish market, in respect of which Ext.P2 order has been passed, is a public market user of which is liable for payment of fee under Section 458. The learned counsel himself would bring to our notice the interim order dated 3/11/2011 issued by this court in W.P.(C) No. 29271/2011. It was pointed out that on the terms of that interim order, which is in favour of respondents 2,3,4 and 5, the collection of market fees pursuant to Ext.P6 therein (Ext.P2 herein) from those respondents has been stayed. Mr.Madhavankutty submitted that what has been stayed is collection of market fee from those respondents if they are conducting sale of fish in the building which belong to them. It is noticed that those respondents often sell fish outside the building also that may not permitted. 5. Mr.Anil.K.Narendran learned counsel for the party WPC.No.28454/2011 4 respondents submitted that there is no justification for exercise of this court's discretionary jurisdiction in the matter of issuing police protection direction in the present case. The allegation of illegal and contumacious acts levelled against the party respondents are without any basis. The party respondents do not intend to cause any threat to the life or limbs of the petitioner. They do not intend to obstruct lawful collection of fee by the petitioner from the vendors in the market. The interim order in W.P.(C) No.29271/2011 was issued by this court after hearing the petitioner also. That interim order has to be obeyed in letter and spirit. 6. Having considered the rival submissions addressed at the Bar, we are of the view that so long as the interim order in W.P. No. 29271/2011 stands, the petitioner is not entitled for the reliefs which he has sought for in this writ petition. Relief can be granted only to a certain extent. 7. We dispose of this writ petition directing respondents 6 to 8 to render adequate police protection to the petitioner for collection of market fees from the various vendors in Changanacherry fish market other than respondents 2,3,4 and 5 WPC.No.28454/2011 5 if there is obstruction by those vendors in the matter of collection of due market fee from them. We record the submissions of Mr.Anil K.Narendran made on behalf of respondents 2,3, 4 and 5 that respondents 2,3,4 and 5 will sell fish from inside their building. If it is reported by the petitioner to respondents 6,7, and 8 that respondent 2,3,4 and 5 are selling fish outside the building in violation of what is permitted in W.P. No. 29271/2011, the respondents 6 to 8 or any one of them will conduct an enquiry and if the enquiry reveals that allegation of the petitioner is correct, the needful will be done so as to prevent respondents 2,3,4 and 5 from selling fish outside the building. ## **PIUS C.KURIAKOSE,JUDGE** **K. HARILAL, JUDGE.** dpk