The Ombudsman for Local self-government institutions has criticised the failure of the Kalamassery Municipal council to comply with its directive to take action against encroachments on the roads at Changampuzha Nagar.
Ombudsman M.N. Krishnan observed that the municipality appeared to be under the impression that it was above law and would not obey its directives. “This is highly deprecated,” the Ombudsman said.
The directives were passed while considering a petition filed by veteran journalist K. P. Krishnanunni (since deceased) seeking a directive to the Municipal council to remove the encroachments on the roads in the Changapuzha Nagar. The petition was filed in 2010.
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The Ombudsman said that it had directed the Municipal council to consider the appeal and decide on the issue. However, when the matter came up again, the Municipal council was granted time till April 15, 2012 to take a decision and pass an order on the appeal of the veteran journalist. The Municipality later filed a statement saying that the council was contemplating a decision on the appeal.
The Ombudsman said that it was not ‘a safe practice at all’ and the conduct of the Municipal council amounted ‘to disobedience’ of its order. “This cannot be tolerated beyond a certain extent,” said the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman, therefore, directed the Municipal Council to pass appropriate orders before October 10.
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The court warned that any lapses on the part of the council would be treated as “maladministration and inaction on the part of the council and is liable to be proceeded under the provisions of Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, especially under section 271.”
The court also directed the Municipality to take an appropriate decision on a complaint about unauthorized constructions on the sides of the roads.
The Ombudsman directed the Municipal Secretary to file a compliance report on October 10.