Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday upheld the closure of shops at Kaloor international stadium and directed the Greater Cochin Development Authority to deposit Rs 25 lakh to pay compensation to the shop owners for loss in business and also compensate its employees in connection with FIFA Under 17 World Cup. The court issued the order while upholding the decision of GCDA and the state government to close business establishments at the commercial complex.
“The enduring loss caused to shop owners for no fault of theirs; by reason only of the administration having not acted with promptitude in notifying the lessees reasonably in advance, downing their shutters abruptly and thus depriving them of their livelihood, tilts the scales in favour of the petitioners, being at least compensated immediately," the court said. The court also asked to constitute a committee consisting of the Member Secretary, Kerala State Legal Service Authority (KELSA), the director, Alternate Disputes Resolution Centre, High Court of Kerala and District Collector before whom the individual petitioners shall raise their claims regarding the loss sustained with substantiating materials.
The state should compensate such losses to 75 per cent of the loss computed by the Committee. "On such computation being made, the District Collector shall immediately release the amount to the petitioners," the court said. The GCDA should deposit the amount with the District collector within a week, which shall be retained in a separate account. The administration shall be entitled to close down the premises and the shop owners should cooperate. The shop owners should close down the individual businesses and the office of the DC shall seal the locks and the key shall be handed over to the DC.
