THOMSON Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner herein is the managing partner of a firm named M/s. Thomson Agencies, having its office at Kombodinjamakkal in Thrissur District. He is doing business of poultry farming and there are more than 500 farm sheds at various areas of Thrissur District, having tie-up with the petitioner's poultry firm. Thus, the petitioner is running the poultry farm on a large scale, with about 10 lakhs of chicks and chicken, which are distributed among the poultry farmers in various panchayats of Thrissur District. The feed for the poultry farm of the petitioner's and their integrated farmers are brought by the petitioner from Tamil Nadu to various places, in his own vehicles.

(2.) Now, the Lorry Owners Federation in Kerala has called for an indefinite strike in allegiance to the 6th respondent, the All India Lorry Owners' Association, in order to pressurise the Government for meeting their various demands. As part of that strike, the lorry owners association and their henchmen are attacking the vehicles of the petitioner's in order to prevent them from plying in the road. The trucks and drivers were attacked and manhandled by them, against which the petitioner filed Exts.P4 and P5 before the concerned police stations. But, the state machinery is taking a dormant attitude in the issue for giving adequate protection to the life and property of the petitioner and the workers employed under him, for transporting poultry feeds. This is the grievance projected in this writ petition and the petitioner has sought for police protection to transport chick feeds through the National Highway from Palakkad to Thrissur.

(3.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader.