The first petitioner is the owner of vehicle, bearing registration No.KL-29-D-22, the second petitioner is the owner of vehicle bearing registration No.KL-17-G-2658. Petitioners 3 and 4 are respectively, drivers of the said vehicles. The above vehicles have been seized alleging violation of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. They have filed Ext.P5 application for compounding the offence under Rule 60A (1) of the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1967 before the second respondent.
2. There shall be a direction to the second respondent to permit the petitioners to compound the offence on payment of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees twenty-five thousand only) in respect of each vehicle. There shall be a further direction to the second respondent to release the vehicles to the registered owners of the vehicles, on payment as above. Needless to say, once the offence is compounded, no prosecution proceedings shall be initiated against the petitioners in respect of the incident which led to the instant writ petition. If a report has already been lodged in the competent W.P.(C).No.12645/2014 -:2:-
criminal court, a further report to the effect that the offence has been compounded shall also be filed. The writ petition is disposed of as above.
Sd/-
A.MUHAMED MUSTAQUE, JUDGE ms