The Hindu : Planters' petition referred to Division Bench

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Planters' petition referred to Division Bench

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, FEB.17. A writ petition filed against the Government order directing the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) to cancel the lease given to certain private parties for cultivating vanilla in its estates at Vettilappara and Athirampuzha was referred to a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court.

Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair referred it to the Bench, which was seized of an appeal filed against the North Paravur sub-court's dismissal of an interim plea for restraining the Government from interfering with the occupation of the estates by the said parties. The petition also challenged the order passed by the PCK cancelling the lease agreement entered into between the petitioners and the corporation.

According to the petitioners - Athiramppuzha Spices, Piravam, and another firm, they had been given the oil palm estates on lease for cultivating vanilla as an intercrop. The petitioner alleged that the actions of the Government and the Corporation violated the lease agreement entered into between the two.

The Government had issued a communication to the Corporation to cancel the agreement, following which the Corporation had issued a cancellation order in February 5.

Petition against bullock cart race

The Judge also adjourned to Friday the hearing on a writ petition seeking to prohibit the bullock cart race scheduled for February 22 at Kakoor Kalavayal near Pirvam in Ernakulam district.

The Judge adjourned the petition after viewing the VCD recording of the race conducted last year. The petition was filed by Daya, a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals in Muvattupzha. The VCD was screened to ascertain whether the animals were being treated cruelly. The petitioner pointed out that though the High Court had last year directed the Ernakulam District Collector to consider banning the race after watching the race, no steps had been taken to ban it.

Case against police officers

Justice G. Sasidharan today adjourned to Monday the hearing on a petition on which the court had directed the Alappuzha North Police Station Circle Inspector, Sub-Inspector and Assistant Sub-Inspector to appear in court. The court had issued the direction on the submission of the counsel for Sooraj Balan that despite the court directive against arresting the petitioner, the police had arrested him.

He had sought anticipatory bail in the case registered on a complaint lodged by his wife that she had been ill-treated by him.

The affidavit filed by Najib, CI, T.V. Mathai, SI and Usha Kumari, Additional SI, tendered unconditional apology and said that the head constable who received the communication from the prosecutor regarding the direction failed to convey the message to the police officer concerned on time.

Killing of stray dogs

The Bench, comprising Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice K. Padmanabhan Nair, posted to February 25 the petition challenging the Central Government order banning the killing of stray dogs. The petition seeking to lift the stay against the order was also adjourned to the same date.

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