KOCHI: Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the state to issue a circular asking all local authorities not to grant building permits without verifying the draft data bank created under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008.
The court asked principal secretary-local self-government (LSG) to issue the circular on a plea filed by M.M. Kuriachan of Tripunithura seeking to get back the vehicle seized by the authorities alleging a violation of the Act.
The court also considered the illegality in granting the building permit in respect of a land included in the draft data bank.
The court also made it clear that the secretaries of the LSGs are liable for any violation of the Act including the payment of the compensation.
The government should also inform the secretaries that vigilance cases would be registered against them if there was any violation. The communication of the court should be issued to all secretaries with immediate effect, the court ordered.
The Maradu Municipality informed the court that they issued the building permit based on the report of the tahsildar.
The court asked Ernakulam district collector to inquire on what basis the additional tahsildar, Kanayannur, had given a report to the municipality and the collector should report whether any connivance by any of the officials was involved.
The court further asked the collector to file a report within two weeks regarding the alleged illegal granting of building permit.
The Maradu municipality should state the name of the secretary, who issued building permit. The collector should intimate the name of the additional tehsildar who submitted the report to the municipality, the court held.
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