Unnikuttan.P., v. the District Collector
Case brief
What is this about?
Instalment payment of mineral royalty demand; royalty demand exceeding Rs. 32 lakhs via two demand notices; revenue recovery notices (R2(a)-(c)); notice under Section 36, Notice No. 169/2018 dated 08.07.2019; Geologist not empowered vs Government empowered to grant instalment permission (Government Pleader's submission); petitioner directed to apply to Government within three weeks; State of Kerala, Industries Department suo motu impleaded as Addl.R3 on 10.03.2025 to decide after hearing petitioner within two months; District Collector Kollam; Tahsildar Kottarakkara; WP(C) 35343/2024; WP(C) 43017/2024; prior judgment dated 16-10-2024 in WP(C) 35343/2024; T.R. Ravi J; Kerala High Court; 2025:KER:20065.
What did the court decide?
Petitioner directed to apply to the Government within three weeks for permission to pay the royalty amounts in instalments; Additional 3rd Respondent (State of Kerala) to consider the request and pass orders after hearing the petitioner within two months from the date of the application.