JUDGMENT :

The petitioners, who are husband and wife, have filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 3 to 5 not to interfere with the disputes between the petitioners and the 7th respondent. The petitioners have also sought for a writ of mandamus commanding the 6th respondent Station House Officer, Adimali Police Station, to provide adequate and effective protection to their life and property, from the 7th respondent and her men. The interim relief sought for is an order directing the 6th respondent Station House Officer to provide adequate and effective protection to the life and property of the petitioners and their family, from the 7th respondent and her men.

2. Going by the averments in the writ petition, the 2nd petitioner belongs to Muthuvan Community, which is recognised as a Schedule Tribe community in the State of Kerala. The 7th respondent is a relative of the 2nd petitioner. The 7th respondent is a resident/occupant of properties in Kadakuzhy Tribal Settlement, in Devikulam Taluk, Idukki District. She was in possession of nearly 4.50 Acres of land in and around the tribal settlement. As the 7t