Kerala - Kochi   

Order to follow CESS suggestions on sand-mining

Staff Reporter

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday observed that sand-mining from the Manimala river flowing through the Vellavoor and Kottungal panchayats should be allowed strictly in accordance with the recommendations made by the Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS).

Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan made the observation while hearing a petition filed by Joseph Tony of Kottayam. The petitioner alleged that there had been indiscriminate sand-mining in Manimala river. He pointed out that CESS had conducted studies and the specific location for sand-mining had been identified.

The court said the Changanassery Tahasildar would address the report of the CESS and make appropriate recommendations. The court ordered that the police would ensure that there was no sand-mining except in accordance with the right auctioned after the report was obtained.

Bail granted

Justice K. Padmanabhan Nair granted bail to 57 CPI(M) activists arrested in connection with the picketing of the Kollam civil station on February1, 2006.

The allegation against them was that they had blocked the civil station and prevented the functioning of Government offices and courts located in the civil station building.

The court said they be released on bail after March 4 on their executing a bond for Rs. 20,000 with two solvent sureties to the like sum.

The court said that more time had to be given to the investigation officer to question the remaining witnesses and complete the investigation.

Appeal dismissed

A Bench comprising Chief Justice V.K. Bali and Justice J.B. Koshy dismissed an appeal filed by the Government against a verdict of a single judge directing the State Government to pay P.E. Arifa of Perumbavoor a compensation of Rs. 50,000 with eight per cent interest for keeping her in illegal custody by police for 80 hours.

The single judge had issued the directive while allowing a writ petition filed by Ms Arifa.

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