The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Directive to prevent unauthorised construction

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Friday, Aug 12, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Directive to prevent unauthorised construction

Staff Reporter

High CourtRound-up

KOCHI: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, on Thursday, directed the Chief Secretary to take steps for preventing unauthorised constructions in the Munnar High Ranges.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Rajiv Gupta and Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan, issued the directive while disposing of a public interest writ petition filed by the High Range Wildlife Protection Association.

According to the petition, a large number of unauthorised buildings were coming up in the Munnar High Ranges, endangering ecological balance. The petitioner sought a directive to the State Government and others to draw up a master plan to prevent this.

Disposing of the petition, the court observed that it was for the Chief Secretary to take steps to prevent unauthorised constructions.

Punishment quashed

Justice S. Siri Jagan quashed the punitive measures, such as withholding of increment and reversion to the post of Assistant Executive Engineer, imposed on A. Rajendra Panicker, Executive Engineer (Design and Estimates), Kerala State Warehousing Corporation, Kochi.

The punishment was for causing a loss of Rs. 1 lakh to the corporation, while submitting tenders for the construction of staff quarters and pig-breeding centres for the Kerala Live Stock Development Board in 1977.

Mr. Panicker had also been directed to pay Rs. 1 lakh to make good the loss. The court found that he went to negotiate with the Board and reduced the rate at the instance of the then Managing Director of the corporation.

The disciplinary proceedings were initiated by the present Managing Director. The court found that the latter had withheld certain vital information from the disciplinary committee.

Waste disposal

A Bench, comprising Justice M. Ramachandran and Justice S. Siri Jagan, dismissed a writ petition filed by the Mananthavadi Panchayat to allow it to set up a solid-waste treatment plant at Choottakadavu.

The panchayat challenged the decision of the Pollution Control Board, refusing permission for setting up the plant. The court said the panchayat could set up the plant in other suitable places, as the site at Choottakadavu was unsuitable for dumping wastes.

Bail plea dismissed

Justice R. Basant on Thursday dismissed the bail applications filed by three accused arrested by CBI in connection with the Olavakkode strong room theft case.

Dismissing the bail applications, the Judge said that if the bail were granted at this stage, it would adversely affect the investigation of the case.

The case relates to the theft of sandalwood, sandal oil and ivory kept in the strong room of the forest department at Olavakkode in Palakkad.

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