IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN FRIDAY, THE 26TH NOVEMBER 2010 / 5TH AGRAHAYANA 1932 WP(C).No. 29965 of 2010(U) --------------------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------------- IPE THOMAS,S/O.JOSEPH,AGED 72 YEARS, POOKKATTU HOUSE,MANJALLOOR KARA, VAZHAKKULAM P.O, THODUPUZHA,ERNAKULAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.ELDHO PAUL. RESPONDENTS: ------------------------ 1. MANJALLOOR GRAMA PANCHAYATH,VAZHAKKULAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. THE SECRETARY,MANJALLOOR GRAMA PANCHAYATH,VAZHAKKULAM. R1 & R2 BY ADV. SRI.PEEYUS A.KOTTAM. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 26/11/2010,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P.(C). NO.29965/2010-U: APPENDIX PETITIONERS' EXHIBITS: EXT.P.1: COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER FOR THE BUILDING PERMIT BEFORE THE R.1. PANCHAYATH DTD. 14/09/2009. EXT.P.2: COPY OF THE DETAILS FURNISHED BY THE R.2. TO THE PETITIONER PURSUANT TO THE QUESTIONAIRE FILED UNDER THE R T I ACT DTD. 07/08/2010. EXT.P.3: COPY OF THE BUILDING PERMIT ISSUED BY THE R.1. PANCHAYATH TO JOY ABRAHAM KALAPPURAYIL DTD. 27/10/2007. RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS: NIL. //TRUE COPY// P.A. TO JUDGE. Prv. P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 29965 OF 2010 -------------------------- Dated this the 26th day of November, 2010 J U D G M E N T The petitioner owns a parcel of land situated within the local limits of the first respondent Grama Panchayat. With a view to put up a building in that parcel of land, the petitioner submitted Ext.P1 application dated 14.9.2009 for a building permit to the first respondent. The grievance voiced by the petitioner is that though Ext.P1 application is accompanied by all the relevant documents and a plan of the proposed building, till date, the second respondent has not taken a decision on the said application. In this writ petition, the petitioner seeks a direction to the second respondent to grant him a building permit. 2. The respondents have been served and they have entered appearance through counsel. The respondents have not so far disputed the averment made by the petitioner that Ext.P1 application is still pending. Under the provisions of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, the Secretary of a local authority is bound to take an expeditious decision on applications for building permits. In the instance case, more than one year has passed after the application WPC No.29965/2010 2 for building permit was submitted. In such circumstances, I dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the second respondent to consider Ext.P1 application for building permit and take a decision thereon expeditiously and in any event within two weeks from the date on which the petitioner produces a certified copy of this judgment before him. P.N.RAVINDRAN, (JUDGE) vps WPC No.29965/2010 3 WPC No.29965/2010 4