M K RAGHAVAN Vs. DISTRICT JUDGE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AN appeal filed under S. 61-D of the Keral a Forest Act (for short'the Act' ; )was dismissed by a District Judge in the following words:'appellant prays for adjournment of the appeal. Prayer is rejected - Appeal is dismissed. No costs.' ; The legality of the said judgment is challenged in this original petition filed under Article 227 of the Constitution.

(2.) FACT, 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 of 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.