STATE OF KERALA Vs. OPPOOTTIL AGENCIES

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These two revision petitions are before us by way of reference dated September 12, 2006. The reference reads as follows :

(2.) According to the learned Government Pleader, the Rubber Board has published material, how rain guarding has to be processed. Literature on rain guarding process indicates what exactly the purpose for which rain guard compound is used, i.e., only as an adhesive and not as a chemical. In other words, the learned Government Pleader contends, the property contained in this particular material has a great adhesive quality. Because of this quality to protect the tapping portion of the plant, so as to protect water entering when it is tapped, a guard is put around the trunk just above the place where the rubber is tapped. In order to put the rain guard as such, polythene material, kora cloth, stapler pin and rain guard compound are used. After putting the polythene cloth and a piece of kora cloth, stapler pin is used to attach the kora cloth and polythene material. A thin layer of rain guard compound is applied to the bark of the rubber plant, then a polythene cover is put around the trunk, where it is cut. Then around the polythene, a kora cloth is tied up and again whole area is covered with rain guard compound as an adhesive. Twice this compound is used to protect the area from rain, in order to see that, the polythene sheets and kora cloth put around the trunk of the rubber plant does not come off during rainy season.

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