Kozhikode: Nod for madrassa illegal

Kozhikode: Kannur Range DIG Dinendra Kashyap, who had been directed to investigate and file a report regarding regularisation of a Madrassa-cum-shopping complex at Ulliyeri by the Lok Ayukta, has submitted a report suggesting that the building was regularised illegally with the undue intervention of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Panchayats.

In his report, the DIG said that the Panchayat Secretary had just followed the order (from the ministry) despite some lacunae present in the overseer’s report but she did not take care that the overseer did a flimsy inspection. “On the basis of the above, I am of the view that the number allotted to the building is not proper and contrary to the norms,” the DIG was quoted as saying in the 29 page report.

In his report, the DIG has said that 17 witness statements were recorded and 38 documents were examined to check whether Poyilinkil Thazhe Jama Masjid Madrassa cum shopping complex and Ullur Mahel Madrassa cum Shopping Complex were regularized as per the existing rules or not. The Lok Ayukta directed the DIG to hold an enquiry and file a report based on a complaint lodged by social worker Ravi Ulliyeri who alleged that the building was constructed violating the Kerala Muncipal Building Rules and was regularized because of the special order issued by Panchayat and Social Welfare Minister M K Muneer.

The DIG states that a joint inspection by the police investigation team and Panchayat officials had found that the building did violate the KMBR rules. “It was found in the site inspection that on the northern side of the building, ie the entrance to the Madrassa, there is a frontage of only 2 metre. An educational institution requires an average front yard of 6 metres with minimum 4.5 metres as per rule 54 (3) of KMBR 99. Also there is construction in more than 55 percentage of the total area of the plot. Maximum permitted covering of constructed area in respect of a mosque is 35 percentage of the plot area as per rules 31 of KMBR and this also appears to be a violation,” the DIG noted in his report.

The DIG said that Surendran, who was holding charge of Deputy Director of Panchayats, Kozhikode had said during statement recording that Minister of Social Welfare and Panchayats, M K Muneer had asked him to examine the application of the Madrassa cum shopping complex and to issue numbers and in his report he had clearly suggested that the Jama Masjid cum Shopping Complex did not comply with the rule in KMBR and that the number should not be given.

Witnesses have also told the DIG that the numbers were given to the buildings based on an order from the Ministry of Social Welfare and Panchayats, asking them to consider this as a ‘special case’ and issue numbers, overriding the objection notes given by Ulliyeari Grama Panchayat and Deputy Secretary Panchayats.