IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON THURSDAY, THE 19TH NOVEMBER 2009 / 28TH KARTHIKA 1931 DBA.No. 93 of 2009() -------------------- (IN THE MATTER OF TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD - GENERAL ADMINISTRATION - IN THE MATTER OF IMPLEMENTATION OF MASTER PLAN - CONSTRUCTION OF MESS CUM ACCOMMODATION BUILDING FOR SPECIAL DURTY STAFF AT NILACKAL) PETITIONER ------------------------ TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD,REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,NANTHANCODE,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-2. BY ADV. SRI.V.KRISHNA MENON RESPONDENT(S): --------------- THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF LOCAL FUND ACCOUNTS,TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD,NANTHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-3. ADV. SRI.KRISHNAKUMAR MANGOT,AMICUS CURIAE GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.V.T.K. MOHANAN THIS DEVASWOM BOARD APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 19/11/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: P.R. RAMAN & P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, JJ. ................................................................................ D.B.A.No. 93 OF 2009 & T.D.B.No. 149 OF 2009 ......................................................................... Dated this the 19th November, 2009 O R D E R P.R. Raman, J: This application is filed by the Travancore Devaswom Board seeking permission to approve 'Annexure-A' estimate for the construction of mess-cum-accommodation building for special duty staff at Nilakkal. Even though the proposed building was intended to accommodate the special duty staff at Nilakkal, the matter was referred to theOmbudsman to consider whether few rooms could be earmarked for pilgrims also. 2. After hearing all the parties, the Ombudsman has filed Report No.149 of 2009. In paragraph NO.'3', it is reported that the Executive Engineer, Shri Narayanan Nambissan informed that in the proposed building, ground floor is for mess, store etc, first floor will be fully required for Devaswom Staff throughout the year; that the 2nd floor is a dormitory, where the duty staff will have to be accommodated during Mandalam- Makaravilakku D.B.A.No. 93 OF 2009 2 season; that generally devotees do not stay at Nilakkal and further that there are six labour sheds used by the staff at present, which can be converted for use of the devotees when the proposed construction is over. 3. We have considered the report of the Ombudsman. It is seen that the second floor and dormitory are required during Mandalam-Makaravilakku season by the staff. Therefore, for the rest of the period, it will be lying vacant, which can be made available to the pilgrims, if there is any demand. In the circumstances, the Devaswom Board Application is allowed. However, it will be subject to usual Audit. P.R. RAMAN, JUDGE. P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, JUDGE. lk