Kerala - Kochi   

Government told to file statement

Staff Reporter

High CourtRound-up

Kochi: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has directed the State Government to file a statement in response to a writ petition challenging the Government direction to various public prosecutors to withdraw criminal cases pending before various courts.

The Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice M.N. Krishnan issued the directive when the case came up for hearing on Wednesday.

The Government Pleader last time had submitted that the Government had not issued any such direction. However, the Home Department had only asked the public prosecutors to submit that they had no objection to cases being withdrawn before the respective courts.

The petition was filed by Gokul Prasad, secretary, People's Forum for Natural Justice, Palakkad,

According to the petitioner, of the 774 cases that the Government decided to withdraw, 173 were pending before courts in Kannur district.

The cases related to the serious offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Damages to Public Properties Act.

The Government had issued the direction for withdrawing the cases on political considerations.

Liquor policy

Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday declined to pass any interim orders against the amended rule that gave preference in conducting toddy shops to those persons who had run the shops during 2002 to 2005, but had to close down due to registration of liquor cases and who were later exonerated by the court.

The court dismissed the petitions while accepting the Advocate General's contention that the amendment was sought to be made without creating any classification between the licensees.

Appointment challenged

The seven director board members of the Kollam District Cooperative Bank on Wednesday filed a writ petition challenging the order of the Cooperative Registrar superseding the board of directors and appointing a part-time administrator.

The petitioners, Koivila Ramachandran, and others said the order was passed without issuing notice to the members.

Plea rejected

Justice R. Basant dismissed a petition filed by the Government seeking to cancel the bail granted by the Alappuzha Sessions Court to Saju, prime accused in the Kanichukulangara murder case.

The Judge rejected the plea of the Government on the ground that the other accused, Beneesh and Sajith, were on bail.

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