BASHEER P. K. Vs. PONOORPOYIL GRANITES MARANCHATTY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Since the issues involved in the above writ appeal and the writ petitions are inter-related to each other, we deem it appropriate to dispose of them by a common judgment.

(2.) This writ appeal is filed against the judgment of the learned Single Judge in W.P.(C) No.4974/2017, by a third party, after obtaining leave from this Court.

(3.) W.P.(C) No.4974/2017 was filed by the partnership firm 'M/s.Ponoorpoyil Granites' (hereinafter referred to as 'the firm'), the first respondent in the appeal, against the respondents 2 to 5 in the appeal. The prayer in the writ petition was to quash Ext.P19 'stop memo' issued to it by the Senior Geologist of the Mining and Geology Department directing the firm to stop quarrying operations in the land having an extent of 2.632 hectares in respect of which the firm had obtained a quarrying lease. The reason stated in Ext.P19 to give such a direction to the firm was that, the aforesaid land was illegally acquired by the firm and that it was a land involved in Vigilance Case No.03/2017/KKD, which was being investigated by the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau.