The controversial construction of a shopping complex on the banks of Muthirappuzha river by Munnar grama panchayat was stayed by the Kerala High court on Wednesday.
It was on a petition filed by O.Y. Ouseph, a former president of the panchayat, that the Division Bench of the court consisting of Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice A.K. Sankaran Nambiar stayed the construction of the building.
Ranjith Thampan, the Additional Advocate General, submitted that the construction of the building was in violation of the Kerala High Court order. The permission and no objection certificate of the Revenue Department was required even for the construction of government buildings.
The State has already approached the court for initiating contempt of court proceedings against the violators, including the local body heads and officials. The area where the constriction was carried out was flooded for five days during the recent floods, he submitted.
The counsel for One Earth One Life, an NGO, submitted that the construction amounted to contempt of court. The court posted the case to be considered after three weeks.