Provision for police assistance in enforcing municipal fee collection affirmed under Kerala Municipality Act, Section 474.

JUDGMENT

The above writ petition is filed seeking the following reliefs:

“i) issue a writ of mandamus or other appropriate writ, order or direction, directing the Respondents 1 to 3 to give adequate and effective police protection to the petitioner and workers to collect the bus stand fees @ Rs.40/- per day from the buses entering into the Thrissur Sakthan and Vadakke bus stands and the arrears of bus stand fees from 01/04/20256 onwards and at the time of seizing and transferring the defaulting buses to the Secretary of the Thrissur Municipal Corporation as per S.474 of the Kerala Municipality Act .

ii) Dispense with the filing of the translation of the vernacular documents;

iii) Grant such other reliefs which this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.” [SIC]

2. When this writ petition came up for consideration on

17.06.2025, this Court passed the following order:

“Admit.

2. Government Pleader takes notice for respondents 1 to 3. Standing Counsel takes notice for the 4^th respondent. Issue urgent notice by speed post to respondents 5 to 7.

3. In the light of Ext.P7 request, there will be an interim order directing the 3^rd respondent to extend adequate police protection to the petitioner and his staff to proceed against the defaulters of the bus stand fee under Section 474 of the Kerala Municipality Act , for a period of one month.”

3. According to the petitioner, he is the authorized person to collect the ‘bus stand fee’ under Section 474 of the Kerala Municipality Act . The grievance of the petitioner is that, when the petitioner approached the defaulters, there is threat from them. In such circumstances, this Writ petition is filed. 4. This Court already passed an interim order on

17.06.2025. Today, when the matter came up for consideration, the Government Pleader submitted that the police authorities summon the petitioner and the obstructors and the matter is solved. If that be the case, I am of the considered opinion that this Writ Petition need not be retained here. If there is any law and order problem, the petitioner can approach the Police Aid Post situated near the place or the Police Control Room or Emergency Response No.112. The petitioner can also approach the Thrissur East Police Station. If such a complaint is received from the petitioner, the police will do the needful to see that the petitioner collect the ‘bus stand fee’ till he is authorised by the Corporation.

With the above observation, this Writ Petition is disposed of.

Sd/-