Allowed

Santhoshkumar v. State of Kerala

Kerala HC15 Jul 2016Crl.MC/2368/2016

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court of Kerala allowed a petition seeking quashing of criminal proceedings for alleged illegal sand transport. The court quashed the charges, holding that seized sand was ordinary sand attracting the MMDR Act instead. Since the offence was compounded, no further proceedings could be taken.

What did the court decide?

The orders in CC No. 1716 of 2015 against the petitioners are quashed.

Santhoshkumar Vs State of Kerala — Criminal Trial and Appeal | Kerala HC (2016)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

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PRESENT:

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V

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FRIDAY, THE 15TH DAY OF JULY 2016/24TH ASHADHA, 1938

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Crl.MC.No. 2368 of 2016

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CC 1716/2015 OF JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE COURT, KASARAGOD CRIME NO. 123/2015 OF BEDAKOM POLICE STATION , KASARGOD

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PETITIONER(S)/ACCUSED:

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1. SANTHOSHKUMAR, S/O.NARAYANAN NAIR, AGED 27 YEARS, KARIYATH HOUSE, BAROTTY, KOLATHUR (PO), KASARAGOD DT.

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2. ABOOBACKER T.H, S/O.MUHAMMED TH, AGED 32 YEARS, KALARIYADKAM HOUSE, KUNDAMKUZHI (PO), BEDAKAM VILLAGE, KASARAGOD DT.

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BY ADV. SRI.T.K.AJITH KUMAR

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RESPONDENT(S)/RESPONDENT:

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STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, BEDAKAM POLICE STATION, KASARAAGOD DT. PIN 671324, THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM.

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BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SMT.SAREENA GEORGE

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THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 15-07-2016, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:

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Crl.MC.No. 2368 of 2016

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APPENDIX

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PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS

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ANNEXURE A1	CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FIRST INFORMATION REPORT IN CRIME NO. 123/2015 OF BEDAKAM POLICE STATION
ANNEXURE A2	CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT IN CRIME NO. 123/2015 OF BEDAKAM POLICE STATION
ANNEXURE A3	TRUE COPY OF THE ANALYTICAL REPORT DATED 19.08.2015 OF THE CHEMICAL LAB DIRECTORATE OF MINING AND GEOLOGY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
ANNEXURE A4	TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER PASSED BY THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, KASARAGOD AT KANHANGAD IN K.DIS.866/2015/A DATED 06.10.2015
ANNEXURE A5	TRUE COPY OF THE CHALAN RECEIPT DATED 05.10.2015 EVIDENCING PAYMENT OF FINE

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RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS

NIL.

/ TRUE COPY /

P.S. TO JUDGE

RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN.V, J

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

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Crl.M.C. No.2368 of 2016

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

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Dated this the 15^th day of July, 2016

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O R D E R

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1.On 16.3.2015 a vehicle bearing registration No.KL-14-L5805 owned by the 2^nd petitioner and driven by the 1^st petitioner was seized on the allegation that River sand was being illegally transported. Crime No.123 of 2015 of Bedakam Police Station was registered against the petitioners alleging offences punishable under section 379 read with 34 of the IPC and section 20 and 21 of the Kerala Protection of River Banks and Regulation of Removal of Sand Act, 2001 ( “Sand Act, 2001” for brevity).

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2.The proceedings are sought to be quashed on the strength of Annexure A3 and A 4. The learned counsel submits that the assumption that River sand was transported is belied

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Crl.M.C.2368/2016

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by Annexure-A3 report. It is also submitted that the offence was compounded as is evident from Annexure-A4.

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I have heard the Public Prosecutor as well.

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4.Annexure-A3 issued by the senior Chemist of the Directorate of Mining and Geology would reveal that the sand which was seized was ordinary sand (sand excavated from places other than stream). In view of the above, the provisions of the Sand Act, 2001 will not be attracted. It is also borne out from Annexure-A4 proceedings of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Kasaragod that a case was registered against the petitioners under the MMDR Act and the offence was compounded on paying a fee of Rs. 25,000/-. By virtue of Section 23 A (2) of the MMDR Act, 1957, once offence is compounded under sub-section (1), no proceeding shall be taken against the offender in respect of the offence so compounded .

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5.I am of the view that the continuance of proceedings as against the petitioners cannot be justified.

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Crl.M.C.2368/2016

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6.In the result this petition is allowed. All further proceedings as against the petitioners in C.C.No.1716 of 2015 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class Court-Kasaragod are quashed.

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Sd/RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN.V. JUDGE

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vps

Santhoshkumar v. State of Kerala

Case brief

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Santhoshkumar v. State of Kerala

Case brief

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