The Hindu : Kerala News : Complaint against Corporation for violating lease agreement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Complaint against Corporation for violating lease agreement

Staff Reporter

No procedural violation, says Deputy Mayor

IN THE EYE OF A STORM: Koker's Theatre, one of the historic landmark in Fort Kochi, is at present cause of a civic controversy. Photo: Vipinchandran

KOCHI: Koker's Theatre at Fort Kochi is in the middle of a controversy.

A complaint has been filed before the Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, that the theatre and its premises have been leased out without following proper procedures.

The complaint filed by Swasraya Mattanchery said the existing lease agreement for the theatre and 56 cents of land expired in May 31, 2005, and it has not been renewed in a proper manner.

The land, with survey number MS 1024 in Fort Kochi Village, was originally leased to T.K. Pareekutty on a 30-year-lease. However, this was further sub-leased to K.S. Mymoon Abdul Khader, who operates the theatre now.

The complaint points out that this was done with the connivance of Kochi Corporation Mayor, Secretary and councillors. This allegation was baseless and false, countered C.K. Manisankar, Deputy Mayor. The lease agreement was renewed after the existing one expired on March 31, 2006.

Reacting to the complainant's allegation that open tenders were not invited for renewal of lease, Mr. Manisankar said that it had been an accepted practice that existing tenants were given preference in renewal of lease agreement. This had been approved even by our courts of law, he said.

For the first time, we could hike the rent to around Rs.5,000 when it was renewed this time, he added.

The lease agreement also showed that the monthly rent was Rs.1,293, and the annual rent being Rs.15,514 during 2003-'04.

The Deputy Mayor also refuted allegations of clandestine deals being made in this regard. The topic of renewing the contract was discussed in detail during the last open council and a decision was taken only after that, he said.

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