Kerala high court says no work related to Erumeli Vapura Swamy temple without permit
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Kochi: The Kerala high court has directed the Erumeli grama panchayat to ensure that no construction activities related to the 'Vapura Swamy' Temple at Erumeli are carried out without obtaining the necessary permit/building permit, in accordance with the Kerala Panchayat Building Rules and other applicable statutory requirements.
The bench comprising Justices Anil K Narendran and S Muralee Krishna issued the order on a petition filed by K K Padmanabhan of North Paravur in Ernakulam. The petitioner alleged that the proposed temple was being constructed without obtaining the mandatory permit from the panchayat, as required under Rule 5 of the Kerala Panchayat Building Rules, on 49 cents of land at Erumeli owned by a native of Thiruvananthapuram.
The petitioner alleged the construction was being carried out with the support of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, but Parishad's senior counsel informed the court that it was not involved in the project. Similarly, the Erumeli grama panchayat secretary submitted that no application for a building permit under the rules has been submitted by any person for the construction of the Vapura Swamy Temple.
Accordingly, the court directed that no construction activity should be undertaken without obtaining the requisite permit in compliance with the building rules. The bench also instructed the panchayat secretary to seek police assistance if necessary. Further, the court directed the Erumeli police station house officer to report the matter to the district police chief, Kottayam, if required, to ensure that no law-and-order issues arise in the locality.
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