Municipality Building Rules violated in auditorium construction: Ker govt to HC

The Kerala government said the state Municipality Building Rules were flouted in the construction of an auditorium in Anthoor municipality in Kannur district, days after an NRI businessman committed suicide over reported refusal to grant the ownership certificate for his project.

The state government informed this to the high court in a counter affidavit filed recently in response to a plea over the suicide of 49-year-old Nigeria-returned businessman Sajan Parayil last month, following refusal to grant the certificate for his Rs 16 crore auditorium by the Anthoor municipality.

The high court had taken up the public interest litigation (PIL) on its own over the suicide.

The court initiated proceedings based on news reports.

"... there were laches and violations of the Building Rules on the part of the applicant. The fact that the Town Planner had returned the plan twice for the defects noted, shows negligence of the architect in the matter of preparing a proper plan with proper study of the terrain," the government said in the counter affidavit.

It also said the plan submitted twice was totally changed and a new plan was produced, which was also found defective in many respects and had to seek clarification.

After the approved plan was issued during execution, several changes against it were made.

This ought not to have been done, especially when the plan is with respect to the Group D Assembly building, the government said.

"The structural change was effected without informing the municipality. The concrete pillars and concrete roof envisaged in the approved plan was changed into steel pillars and truss roof. This was the major change effected during execution," it said.

The architect should not have effected these changes without obtaining prior permission and submitting a revised plan.

For the delay of finally approving the plan also, the negligence of the architect is evident, it added.

Last month, the court said the "lethargic attitude" of authorities led to the incident and sought the state government's explanation by July 15.

It also came down heavily on alleged red tape still prevailing in the system.

The court registrar general's note had said there were reasons to believe that the NRI businessman committed suicide after investing Rs 16 crore for his own business due to the "adamant posture" of the municipality .