M K RAGHVAN Vs. DIST JUDGE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) An appeal filed under S.61D of the Kerala Forest Act (for short "the Act") was dismissed by a District Judge in the following words:

(2.) Facts, in short, are these: A Divisional Forest Officer (the Authorised Officer) initiated proceedings under S.61 A of the Act in respect of a lorry and the load therein which were seized by the Forest Officials on 15-1-1986. As per Ext. P1 proceedings, the aforesaid authorised officer ordered confiscation of the said lorry as well as the contraband load. Petitioner claiming himself to be the owner of the lorry. challenged the order of confiscation by filing an appeal under S.61 the Act. The Appeal was taken on file and was numbered. When the appeal came up for arguments on 24-9-1987, learned District Judge passed the impugned Judgment.

(3.) S.61-D of the Act is extracted below: