Kerala - Kochi   

Court admits plea against panchayat

Kochi: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has admitted a writ petition challenging the Mananthavady grama panchayat’s decision to reduce rent for certain shop rooms on account of the installation of the Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in front of these shops.

The writ petition was filed by E.J. Babu of Mananthavady challenging the order of the Ombudsman for local self-government endorsing the reasoning given by the panchayat for reduction of rent. The panchayat took the stand before the Ombudsman that a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was installed in front of the shop rooms at the instance of the petitioner.

As a result, the view of these shop rooms had been reduced. Therefore, on demand of the occupants of the shop rooms, the panchayat had reduced the rate of rent by 40 per cent.

The petitioner said the decision of the Ombudsman to accept the reasons given by the panchayat for the reduction of rent, was contrary to the principles laid down in Article 51 A (b) of the Constitution.

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