IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.S.SATHEESACHANDRAN TUESDAY, THE 26TH APRIL 2011 / 6TH VAISAKHA 1933 DBP.No. 50 of 2011() ------------------------------ IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD-SPECIAL REPAIRS TO THE PILGRIM CENTRE NO.1 AT SABARIMALA-TDB- REPORT (S) NO.67/2011 SUBMITTED BY THE OMBUDSMAN- SUO-MOTU PROCEEDINGS INITIATED REG. .................... PETITIONER: -------------------- TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, REPRESENTED BY IT'S SECRETARY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADV. SRI.V.V.NANDAGOPAL NAMBIAR, SC, TDB. RESPONDENT(S): -------------------------- DEPUTY DIRECTOR, LOCAL FUND AUDIT, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY SR. GOVT. PLEADER MR.R. LAKSHMI NARAYANAN ADV. SRI.KRISHNAKUMAR MANGOT, AMICUS CURIAE FOR OMBUDSMAN ADV. SRI.D. ANIL KUMAR, AMICUS CURIAE. THIS DEVASWOM BOARD PETITION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 26/04/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: rs Thottathil B.Radhakrishnan & S.S.Satheesachandran, JJ. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = D.B.P.No.50 of 2011 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Dated this the 26th day of April, 2011. Order Thottathil B.Radhakrishnan, J. Going through the materials, we are not satisfied that the work covered by the estimates needs to be done as sought for. The 134 rooms in the building in question, are not essentially income generating units. The Board says that many of those rooms are made with donor contribution and donors have preference. We are not sure whether the donors would settle at least a portion of the expenditure for the so-called repair works. The estimate amount is around Rs.85 lakhs. But the first set of works covered by Appendix I to Annexure-A are not essentially repair works. Sanitary repairs are covered by Appendix II and Appendix III regulates other works, including DBP50/11 -: 2 :- drainage. We do not see the need for paving the rooms and toilets with ceramic tiles and such other modifications in relation to the requirement to get a room in Sabarimala in connection with the pilgrimage and penance. We are also of the view that the agreement between the donors and the Board may also have to be considered to identify whether the expenditure to this extent needs to be incurred. The profit and loss account in relation to this building would also be the relevant consideration. We, therefore, direct the Board to produce further materials in support of the aforesaid. Thottathil B.Radhakrishnan, Judge. S.S.Satheesachandran, Judge. Sha/2804