K.K. Seena and ANR Vs.
State of Kerala and Ors. [2008] INSC 1114 (14 July 2008)
Judgment
CIVIL APPELLATE
JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO.4372 OF 2008 (Arising out of S.L.P. (C) No.22071
of 2003) K.K. Seena and Anr. ...Appellant(s) Versus State of Kerala and Ors.
...Respondent(s) O R D E R Heard learned counsel for the parties.
Leave granted.
Tehsildar refused to
grant certificate to the appellants to the effect that they belonged to the
Schedule Caste, which necessitated filing of writ petition before the High
Court of Kerala giving rise to O.P. No.5732 of 1985. By judgment dated 2nd
August, 1985, learned Single Judge recorded a clear cut finding that the
appellants belonged to Thandan Community and consequently were members of
Scheduled Caste. Accordingly, the Tehsildar was directed to issue required
certificate in favour of the appellants. The said order attained finality as
the same was not assailed either before the High Court in appeal or this Court
under Article 136 of the Constitution of India, inasmuch as no review petition
was filed. But in violation of the aforesaid order of the High Court, the
Tehsildar again refused to grant certificate to the appellants who had no
option but to take a second round by filing a fresh writ petition giving rise
to ...2/- - 2- O.P. No.6265 of 1997 whereby order passed by the Tehsildar
refusing to grant certificate was quashed and he was directed to issue a
certificate in favour of the appellants. Curiously enough, this time, for the
reasons best known to the State, a writ appeal was filed against the said order
which, it appears, might have been filed at the instance of the delinquent
Tehsildar, who was also one of the appellants in appeal and unfortunately
Division Bench of the High Court instead of dismissing the appeal by awarding
heavy cost, has remitted the matter to the Tehsildar for fresh enquiry in the
matter without at all applying its mind and adverting to the fact that the
order dated 2nd August, 1985, passed in the earlier writ petition attained
finality, the same having not been challenged before any higher court. The
present appeal has been filed by way of special leave.
In our view, the
state of affairs in the State of Kerala, at the relevant time, was shocking. When
High Court after due consideration recorded a finding that appellants belonged
to Thandan community which was Schedule Caste and directed the Tehsildar to
grant certificate in their favour, we really fail to understand how the officer
of the State could dare to refuse to act in the teeth of order of the High
Court which attained finality. As a matter of fact, it was a clear cut case of
contempt in which Tehsildar could have been hauled up, but we do not propose to
adopt that procedure as the order was passed in the year 1985, a period of
twenty three years therefrom expired and the officer might have retired from
service or even from this world. There cannot be better case than this for
awarding heavy costs against the State Government, which must be paid to the
appellants within a time fixed by this Court.
....3/- -3-
Accordingly, the appeal is allowed with costs, impugned order passed by the
Division Bench is set aside, the same passed by the learned Single Judge
restored and the present Tehsildar is hereby commanded to grant the required
certificate within one month from today. Hearing fee is assessed at Rupees
fifty thousand, which shall be paid by the concerned District Magistrate to the
appellants by demand drafts drawn in their favour drawn upon a local bank
within the same time. All concerned would see that the directions
aforementioned are carried out within the time schedule so that this Court may
not be compelled to take any harsh action against them.
This order shall be
communicated by learned counsel appearing for the State to the Chief Secretary
with a copy to the concerned District Magistrate.
......................J.
[B.N. AGRAWAL]
......................J.
[G.S. SINGHVI]
New
Delhi, July 14, 2008.
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