IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
Con Case(C) No. 899 of 2007(S)
1. GURUVAYUR DRAINAGE ACTION COUNCIL
... Petitioner
Vs
1. MRS.LISSI JACOB, AGED NOT KNOWN TO THE
... Respondent
For Petitioner :SRI.M.RAJAGOPALAN
For Respondent :GOVERNMENT PLEADER
The Hon'ble the Chief Justice MR.H.L.DATTU
The Hon'ble MR. Justice K.T.SANKARAN
Dated :30/07/2007
O R D E R
H.L. DATTU, C.J. & K.T. SANKARAN, J.
...................................................................................
CONTEMPT CASE (C) No. 899 OF 2007
...................................................................................
Dated this the 30th July, 2007
J U D G M E N T
H.L. Dattu, C.J:
Alleging that the respondent has disobeyed wilfully and deliberately,
the orders passed by this Court in O.P.No. 19891 of 1997 dated 30th January,
2004 and the undertaking given by the respondent in the counter affidavit filed
in Contempt Case (C) No. 1707 of 2004, the complainant is before us in this
Contempt case filed under sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act,
1971 read with Article 215 of the Constitution of India, requesting us to initiate
appropriate contempt proceedings against the respondent herein, who is none
other than the Chief Secretary to the Government.
2. When the matter was posted before this court on the last date of
hearing, we had directed the Chief Secretary to the Government/contemnor to
be present before the court for the purpose of framing charges.
3. May be realising the possible consequences that may result in this
Contempt case, yet another counter affidavit is filed by the Chief Secretary,
today. In paragraph 8 of the counter affidavit, the respondent/contemnor
has stated as under:
“In such circumstances, the Government decided to rework the
total scheme. Recognizing the urgency and the difficulty in
having multiple agencies, the Government also decided that the
Kerala Water Authority shall be the sole agency responsible for
the implementation of the project and the KWA was directed to
take up the work for immediate execution. Accordingly, as
stated hereinbefore, the KWA has issued the tender sanction for
the sewage treatment plant amounting to Rs.5.60 crores to be
CONTEMPT CASE (C) No. 899 OF 2007
2
awarded to M/s. Navin Construction Corporation, the lowest
tenderer and the work is to be completed within a period of 18
months. The Government shall ensure that no further delay will
occur in implementing the Guruvayur Sewage Treatment Plant.”
4. Keeping in view the position that the respondent/contemnor occupies
and also keeping in view the affidavit of undertaking filed, for the present, we
do not intend to frame charges against the respondent/contemnor for violating
the order passed by this court, deliberately and wilfully. Accordingly, the
following:
O R D E R
i) Placing on record the affidavit dated 30.07.2007 filed by the
respondent/contemnor, this Contempt Case is closed for the present.
ii) A direction is issued to the respondent/contemnor to see that
the work of the project shall be completed as expeditiously as possible as
undertaken in the affidavit, and at any rate, within 18 months from today.
iii) We make it clear, that this is the last chance given to the
respondent/contemnor to comply with the orders and directions issued by this
court in O.P.No. 19891 of 1997 dated 30th January, 2004.
iv) I.A.No. 438 of 2007 is also disposed of.
Ordered accordingly.
H.L. DATTU,
CHIEF JUSTICE.
K.T. SANKARAN,
JUDGE.
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