Kerala - Kochi   

Government asked to furnish opinion on Smart City

Staff Reporter

High CourtRound-up

Kochi: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday granted the new Government a month's time to furnish its opinion on the implementation of Smart City project.

The Bench comprising Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice V. Ramkumar granted the time when a writ petition filed by Adhinivesa Prathirodha Samithi challenging the signing of the agreement for setting up the Smart City Project came up. The court had last week directed the Government pleader to submit the new Government's policy toward the Smart City Project. The Government sought two month's time to present its views.

Spinning mill

Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan on Monday ordered that status quo be maintained with respect to the proceeding initiated for winding up the Thiruvananthapuram Spinning Mills. The closure proceedings were initiated on the basis of a High Court order.

In an affidavit, the new Government told the High Court that it was actively considering the revival of the company. The new Government was of the view that taking into account the plight of a large number of employees affected by the closure of the company, it had to be revived for the benefits of the employees. When the petition came up, Advocate General M. Retna Singh submitted that if the Government efforts would benefit large number of employees, the High Court should cooperate with the Government's endeavour.

Palakkad municipality

A Division Bench has granted time till Friday to A.K. Chandrankutty, who had been elected Chairperson of the Palakkad municipality, to file an affidavit in response to a writ petition seeking a directive to the State Election Commission to direct him to take oath as Chairperson.

The petition filed by T.K. Abdul Azeez, councillor, also sought to disqualify Mr. Chandrankutty if he did not obey the directives of the election commission.

New Act challenged

A writ petition was filed challenging the constitutional validity of Sections 6 and 17 of the Kerala Promotion of Tree Growth in Non-Forest Areas Act 2005, which virtually allows landowner to cut and remove the trees. The petitioner, One Earth, One Life, said that though the objective of the Act was to encourage growth of trees, Section 6 gave absolute power to the landowners to cut and remove trees. In fact a large number of timber were being transported on the basis of the provisions of the Act.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Monsoon wreaks havoc in Ernakulam district
Oil sector strike may hit fuel supply
An online magazine on the world of art
Battle against the weed that kills
Government asked to furnish opinion on Smart City
Inter-connection work complete
A film that throws light on contemporary society
Plea to repeal Headload Act
Mathai Chacko sworn-in MLA
GCDA sells land for record price
Medical camp
Hitching a ride
Pledges support
Around the City
In Kochi Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu