Madras High Court
P. Murugan vs The Revenue Divisional Officer on 11 February, 2019
Author: R.Subbiah
Bench: R.Subbiah, Krishnan Ramasamy
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 11.02.2019
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.SUBBIAH
and
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY
W.P.No.1096 of 2019
P. Murugan .. Petitioner
Vs.
1. The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Tiruvallur, Tiruvallur District.
2. The Thasildar,
Office of the Thasildar,
Tiruvallur Taluk, Tiruvallur District.
3. The Inspector of Police,
Mappedu Police Station,
Mappedu, Tiruvallur District. .. Respondents
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying
for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 3rd respondent to release the
JCB- Vehicle - Earth Moving equipment ( Caterpillar) MMV bearing Registration
No.TN-12-V-7284 seized by the 1st respondent to the petitioner.
For petitioner : Mr.N. Sudharsan
For respondents : Mr.J. PothiRaj
Special Government Pleader
http://www.judis.nic.in
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ORDER
(The Order of the Court was made by R.Subbiah,J) The petitioner has filed the above Writ Petition praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 3rd respondent to release the JCB - Vehicle - Earth Moving equipment ( Caterpillar) MMV bearing Registration No.TN-12-V- 7284 seized by the 1st respondent to the petitioner.
2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.
3. According to the petitioner, the respondents have seized the vehicle in question on 25.09.2018 on the ground of illegal mining and till date, no order for release of the said vehicle had been passed by the respondents. Hence, he has come forward with the present Writ Petition.
4. On the other hand, it is submitted by the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents that the vehicle in question was used for illegal transportation of mines and minerals like sand, etc., and hence the vehicle was seized. He further submitted that the petitioner has no previous case. http://www.judis.nic.in 3
5. In any event, as the vehicle is under the custody of the respondents from the date of seizure and considering the fact that if the same is allowed to be kept idle by exposing the same to rain and shine, it would certainly diminish their value, this Court is of the view that the vehicle in question may be released by imposing conditions on the petitioner.
6. Accordingly, the respondents are directed to release the vehicle in question to the petitioner within a period of 7 days from the date of compliance of the below mentioned condition Nos.(i) to (iii) :
(i) The petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees fifity Thousand only) before the jurisdictional Tahsildar concerned as non-refundable deposit. After receipt of the above said amount, the same will have to be deposited by the jurisdictional Tahsildar concerned, to the credit of the District Mines and Minerals Foundation Trust as non-refundable deposit.
(ii) The petitioner shall execute a personal bond for a sum of Rs.10,000/-
(Rupees ten thousand only) with two sureties each for a like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned jurisdictional Judicial Magistrate.
(iii) The petitioner shall give an undertaking before the respondents/authority concerned stating that he/she will not use the vehicle in question for any illegal activities in future and shall produce the same as and http://www.judis.nic.in 4 when required by the respondents and also the trial Court, failing which the respondents/trial Court is/are at liberty to confiscate the vehicle.
(iv) The petitioner shall not alienate the vehicle in question till the disposal of the proceedings before the authority concerned.
(v) The petitioner is also directed to participate in the enquiry to be conducted by the respondents.
7. With the above observations and directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No Costs.
(R.P.S.J) (K.R.J)
11.02.2019
Office to note: Issue order copy by 13.02.2019 cs To
1. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiruvallur, Tiruvallur District.
2. The Thasildar, Office of the Thasildar, Tiruvallur Taluk, Tiruvallur District.
3. The Inspector of Police, Mappedu Police Station, Mappedu, Tiruvallur District.
http://www.judis.nic.in 5 R.SUBBIAH, J and KRISHNAN RAMASAMY, J smn W.P.No.1096 of 2019 11.02.2019 http://www.judis.nic.in