The court allows interim protection against coercive proceedings related to an ex-parte award, pending appeal for further relief.

J U D G M E N T

The petitioner has suffered an ex-parte award, as evidenced by Ext.P2, passed by the Principal Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Kozhikode. The captioned writ petition has been filed seeking to challenge the coercive proceedings initiated for realisation of the award amount. This Court, while admitting the writ petition, by an order dated 31.03.2023, directed the 4^th respondent – Bank to permit the petitioner to operate the account after withholding the award amount of Rs.8,62,756/-.

2. I have heard Sri.G.Hariharan, the learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri.P.G.Jayashankar, the learned counsel for the insurance company, and Sri.C.K.Karunakaran, the learned counsel for the 4^th respondent – Bank.

3. This Court notices that, as against the ex-parte award, the petitioner has already instituted M.A.C.A. No.1187 of 2023. In that view of the matter, it is for the petitioner to obtain interim protection in the afore M.A.C.A., as regards the steps for realisation of the award amount.

In such circumstances, I dispose of this writ petition, without prejudice to the right of the petitioner to move for interim protection in the afore M.A.C.A. So as to facilitate the petitioner in obtaining appropriate orders in the M.A.C.A., the interim protection granted by this Court on 31.03.2023 shall continue for a period of three weeks.

Sd/-