The Hindu : Government told to file counter-affidavit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Government told to file counter-affidavit

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, JAN. 13. A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court today directed the State Government to file a counter-affidavit in response to a writ petition seeking a direction to the Union and State Governments to ensure that no trees or shola vegetations are felled and removed from the 500 hectares of the upper Bhavani reserved forest in Mannarkad.

The Bench, comprising the Chief Justice, J.L. Gupta, and Justice N. K.Sodhi, issued the direction when the writ petition filed by C.K. Janu, leader of the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha, and Anavayi Mudha Moopan, a tribal chieftain, came up before it. The petitioners alleged that deforestation activities began in the area last week at the instance of the Forest Department. The forest area was part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and the Silent Valley National Park. The forest was replete with rare flora and fauna. Besides, many tribals were living in the forest. In fact, six acres of forest land had already been cleared by the forest officials and the value of trees would come to more than Rs. 25 crores. Though the District Collector had been informed about the large-scale destruction of forest, he had failed to take any action.

Ventilators at medical college

The Government informed the Bench that sanction had been accorded for buying eight ventilators for installing in the Surgical ICU of the Thiruvananthapuram Mediccal College.

The submission was made by the senior government pleader, C.K. Abdul Rahim. And the Bench closed a writ petition seeking a probe into the death of patients allegedly owing to the lack of ventilators, in the light of the submission. The court was also informed that an inquiry by the Additional Health Secretary, M.N. Gunavadhan, had been conducted into the incidents. The inquiry commission found that Biju, who was admitted to the hospital, could have been saved if there was ventilator support. But it could not be concluded that he died owing to non-availability of ventilators.

Writ plea dismissed

A Bench of the High Court dismissed as withdrawn a writ petition seeking a direction to the State Government to award a compensation of Rs. 3 lakhs each to the next of kin of the victims in the Panamaram bus accident in Wayanad district.

The petition was filed by Kaloor Joseph. According to him, the accident in which ten person were killed occurred because of the lethargic attitude of the Government. The bus rammed into a tree owing to overspeeding. The accident occurred due to the Government's failure to comply with the direction of the court for installing speed governors in heavy vehicles. Meanwhile, the Government filed a petition seeking to extend by six months the time given for complying with the direction.

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