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Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala high court says no work related to Erumeli Vapura Swamy temple without permit
1 2 3 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.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Plea against Aadhaar for school admissions: Kerala HC seeks state govt's views
Kochi: A high court division bench has directed the state govt to file a counter affidavit in an appeal challenging a single bench order which had upheld the state's directive requiring aided schools to provide the Aadhaar numbers of all students to prevent duplicity and bogus admissions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and S Muralee Krishna further adjourned the appeal, which was filed by the manager of St Antony's LP School at Mala in Thrissur, to Aug 8. Earlier, the single bench had dismissed the petition filed by the manager challenging the requirement to furnish Aadhaar numbers of students while determining the sanctioned staff strength of the school. The single bench had observed that the state govt, while providing grant-in-aid, was justified in insisting upon the Aadhaar numbers of all students to avoid duplicity and bogus admissions, and that there was no illegality in such action. However, in the appeal, the manager contended that the Supreme Court, in the K S Puttaswamy case, had explicitly held that Aadhaar cannot be made mandatory for school admissions, as education is neither a service nor a subsidy. He further argued that denying education to children solely because they lack an Aadhaar number would violate their fundamental right to education under Article 21A of the Constitution. The petitioner's main grievance is that three students who were admitted to Class I do not possess UID Aadhaar numbers, and their admissions will not be considered for the purpose of sanctioning divisions and posts. Since no other student has joined Class I, and the school is classified as 'uneconomic,' no class division or teaching post will be sanctioned in light of the amended KER.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Travancore devaswom board staff should approach high court if they have plaints regarding Sabarimala duty, says court
Kochi: High court has held that if Travancore devaswom board (TDB) employees have any grievance regarding their deployment on special duty at Sabarimala during the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival seasons or 'Masapoojas', they must approach the high court for relief.A division bench comprising Justices Anil K Narendran and S Muralee Krishna issued the directive while considering a suo motu petition initiated by the high court in the Sabarimala matter. The issue arose from a report submitted by the devaswom ombudsman, which stated that a complaint had been received regarding the deployment of devaswom employees on special duty at Sabarimala during the Mandala-Makaravilakku festival. Certain employees had approached the ombudsman seeking the formulation of guidelines for such the division bench was considering the petition, the TDB submitted that the deployment of employees on special duty at Sabarimala during the festival season is carried out strictly following the directions issued by high court in 2022. In that directive, the court had noted that the reluctance shown by board employees to report for special duty at Sabarimala Sannidhanam, Pamba and Nilakkal during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season cannot be taken lightly. It was further stated that employees who fail to report for special duty — except on genuine medical grounds or due to the ongoing festival in their temple — should face appropriate disciplinary disposing of the suo motu petition based on the ombudsman's report, the bench reiterated that devaswom employees cannot approach the ombudsman with complaints about the absence of guidelines for deployment on special duty at Sabarimala, as such matters are strictly governed by the directives of the court.
