T.K. Reji v. State of Kerala and Others

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** **PRESENT:** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.V.RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI** ## **TUESDAY, THE 14TH DAY OF JULY 2015/23RD ASHADHA, 1937** ## **WP(C).No. 11553 of 2015 (T)** **---------------------------------------** ## **PETITIONER(S):** ## **----------------------** **T.K.REJI, AGED 45 YEARS, S/O. KURIAKOSE, RESIDING AT THENUMKUTTIYIL HOUSE, THIRUVANIYAR, VARIKOLI P.O., CHEMMANADU KARA, KUNNATHUNADU TALUK, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT - 682 308.** ## **BY ADV. SRI.PEEYUS A.KOTTAM** **RESPONDENT(S):** **-------------------------** **1. STATE OF KERALA, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE DEPARTMENT, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIT ANNEX, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.** **2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, ERNAKULAM, COLLECTORATE, CIVIL STATION, KAKKANAD, COCHIN - 682 030.** ## **3. REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER,** - **MUVATTUPUZHA, MINI CIVIL STATION, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 686 673.** **4. VILLAGE OFFICER, VILLAGE OFFICE, THIRUVANIYUR, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682 307.** **5. DISTRICT BLOCK PANCHAYATH, KAKKANAD, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, ERNAKULAM, COCHIN - 682 030.** **6. THIRUVANIYUR GRAMA PANCHAYATH, THIRUVANIYUR, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 682 307.** **PJ** **....2/-** **..2..** ## **WP(C).No. 11553 of 2015 (T)** **---------------------------------------** ## **7. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE,** - **PUTHENCRUZ POLICE STATION, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 682 311.** ## **8. THANAL ART AND CULTURAL VEDI,** - **HAVING REGISTRATION NO. EKM/PC/195/2015, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, MANAMATHADAM.** **R1-4 & 7 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT.ANITHA RAVEENDRAN R6 BY ADV. SRI.T.K.AJITHKUMAR (VALATH)** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 14-07-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** **PJ** ## **WP(C).No. 11553 of 2015 (T)** ## **---------------------------------------** ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS** **-------------------------------------** **EXHIBIT-P1TRUE COPY OF THE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE 8TH RESPONDENT TRESPASSING INTO THE PUBLIC ROAD THAT TOO WITHOUT OBTAINING THE REQUIRED LICENCES AND PEMISSION FROM THE PANCHAYATH AND OTHER CONCERNED AUTHORITIES.** **EXHIBIT-P2TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 09/03/2015 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 6TH RESPONDENT ALONG WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION.** **EXHIBIT-P3TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT NO. 1925 DATED 09/03/2015 SHOWING DUE RECEIPT OF REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER ISSUED BY THE 6TH RESPONDENT OFFICE ALONG WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION.** **EXHIBIT-P4TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 16/03/2015 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, ERNAKULAM.** **EXHIBIT-P5TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT DATED 16/03/2015 ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, ERNAKULAM TO THE PETITIONER ALONG WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION.** ## **RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS** **---------------------------------------** **NIL.** **/ TRUE COPY /** ## **P.S. TO JUDGE** **PJ** ## **A.V.RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI, J** --------------------------------------------WPC No.11553 of 2015 --------------------------------------------Dated this the 14[th] day of July, 2015 ## **JUDGMENT** The petitioner has approached this Court for a direction to the respondents 2 to 7 to take immediate steps to stop the alleged illegal construction being carried out by the 8[th] respondent on the western side of the Manamthadam-Vennikkulam Public Road in Ward No.5 of the 6[th] respondent Panchayat. 2. The petitioner is a resident of 6[th] respondent Panchayat. The petitioner's property and his tharavadu house are situated on the eastern side of MananthadamVennikkulam road in Ward No.5 of the 6[th] respondent Panchayat. This public road is vested with the 6[th] respondent Panchayat and is maintained by the 5[th] respondent District Block Panchayat. This road is having a width of 12 metres and the owners having property on either side of the road have demarcated their properties from the road area. WPC No.11553/2015 2 3. According to the petitioner, the 8[th] respondent is a group of gangsters formed themselves into an association and now, they are attempting to construct a building trespassing into the Manamthadam-Vennikkulam Road in Ward No.5 of the 6[th] respondent Panchayat. The 8[th] respondent and their men are doing illegal construction after trespassing into the road using their muscle power and political influence. The construction of the building in the Panchayat area cannot be commenced or carried out without getting prior approval from the Panchayat. The 8[th] respondent is carrying the construction without obtaining any building permit from the 6[th] respondent Panchayat. The said illegal construction is being carried out in blatant violation of all the laws prevailing on land and also depriving the petitioner's right to have access to the public road from any point of his property; it is alleged. The petitioner also points out that this Court in the judgment reported in 1996 KHC 346 ( _**MP Joseph**_ v _**District Magistrate**_ ) has held that the owner of the WPC No.11553/2015 3 property on the side of the National Highway has a private right of access subject to the public right of passage which is a higher right to be enjoyed by public including the persons like the petitioner. In other words, a private right of access to the Highway may co-exist with the public right of way, though it does not necessarily merge with the public right. 4. The 6[th] respondent has filed a counter affidavit in which it is stated that the petitioner submitted Ext.P2 representation before the 6[th] respondent alleging illegal construction made by the 8[th] respondent. Thereafter on verification, the 6[th] respondent found that the 8[th] respondent has made illegal constructions without obtaining any building permit from the 6[th] respondent by trespassing up on the road puramboke vested with the 6[th] respondent. Therefore, the 6[th] respondent issued a notice dated 20.3.2015 to the 8[th] respondent demanding to demolish the illegal structure. True copy of the notice dated 20.3.2015 is produced and marked as Ext.R6(a). WPC No.11553/2015 4 After receipt of Ext.R6(a) notice, the 8[th] respondent issued a reply dated 26.3.2015 to the 6[th] respondent. True copy of the reply dated 26.3.2015 is produced and marked as Ext.R6(b). Thereafter on 29.4.2015, the 6[th] respondent issued another notice to the 8[th] respondent demanding demolition of the building. True copy of the notice dated 29.4.2015 is produced and marked as Ext.R6(c). The 8[th] respondent again issued similar reply as Ext.R6(b) to the 6[th] respondent. Thereafter the 6[th] respondent issued another notice dated 22.5.2015 for the eviction of unauthorised occupation of the road puramboke to the 8[th] respondent. True copy of the notice dated 22.5.2015 is produced and marked as Ext.R6(d). In spite of the receipt of Ext.R6(d), the 8[th] respondent has not so far vacated the puramboke land and therefore, the 6[th] respondent is proceeding further against the 8[th] respondent. When the illegal construction by the 8[th] respondent was brought to the notice of the 6[th] respondent, prompt and lawful action was taken by the 6[th] respondent. WPC No.11553/2015 5 5. Today when the matter came up for hearing, the learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that though the respondent Panchayat stated that they are in the process of initiating action against the eighth respondent, they have not done anything so far. 6. In answer to the submission, the learned counsel for the respondent Panchayat would submit that the decision was taken only one week back and therefore, they would implement the decision taken by them without delay. Recording the said submission, this writ petition is disposed of directing the respondent Panchyat to complete the process of removal of alleged illegal encroachment within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. ## **sd/- A.V.RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI JUDGE** css/ true copy P.S.TO JUDGE