Suo Motu vs. State Of Kerala
Held
The Court directed a preliminary inquiry by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau into the auction process to ascertain if a cognizable offense is disclosed. It also ordered the Travancore Devaswom Board to ensure compliance with previous court decisions and initiate recovery proceedings against defaulters.
Facts
The case concerns the auctioning of parking Kuthaka rights at Nilakkal Base Camp for Sabarimala pilgrims. A contractor defaulted on payments, yet was allowed to continue collecting fees, and the Travancore Devaswom Board did not insist on bank guarantees for balance bid amounts.
Key Issues
Whether the Travancore Devaswom Board followed proper procedures in auctioning Kuthaka rights and collecting fees, and if there was any suppression of material facts before the court.
Sections Cited
None
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K. NARENDRAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.G. AJITHKUMAR THURSDAY, THE 23RD DAY OF MARCH 2023 / 2ND CHAITHRA, 1945 SSCR NO.29 OF 2022 IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD-SABARIMALA SREE DHARMA SASTHA TEMPLE- MATTER REGARDING THE PARKING FACILITY AT NILAKKAL BASE CAMP-SUO MOTU PROCEEDINGS INITIATED BASED ON A REPORT DATED 16.12.2022 OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONER, SABARIMALA-REG. PETITIONER:
SUO MOTU RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, REVENUE (DEVASWOM) DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001. 2 THE TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, NANTHANCODE, KAWDIAR POST, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695003 3 THE DEVESASWOM COMMISSIONER TRAVANCORE DEVAWOM BOARD, DEVASWOM BUILDINGS, NANTHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695005 4 THE STATE POLICE CHIEF PATHANAMTHITTA, 689 645 5 THE DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF PATHANAMTHITTA 689 645
2 SSCR No.29 of 2022 and W.P.(C) No.42987 of 2022
6 THE DISTR
The judgment continues below.
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