2026 Supreme(Online)(Ker) 34594

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
C. Jayachandran, J
Leslian Thomas – Appellant
Versus
State Of Kerala – Respondent
WP(C) NO. 28617 OF 2025

A writ petition challenging industrial or commercial operations becomes infructuous upon the expiration of the operator's statutory permits and licenses, rendering the primary grievance moot, provided the respondent undertakes to operate only upon securing valid future authorization.

Headnote:The proceedings concern a challenge against quarrying activities citing environmental and regulatory violations. As the relevant permits and licenses for the activity had expired during the pendency of the petition, the respondents submitted that the matter had become infructuous. The central issue was whether the petition remained actionable despite the expiry of statutory permissions. The court held that since the primary source of grievance had ceased to exist, the petition did not warrant further adjudication. The petition was closed on the basis of the undertaking that no further operations would be conducted without valid documentation, with liberty reserved for the petitioners to approach the court again if illegal activities occur in the future.