The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition that demanded strict adherence to its directives regarding the use of Thekkinkadu Maidan in Thrissur. The court also imposed a cost of Rs 5,000 on the petitioner for filing what it deemed a misuse of the judicial process.
Court Dismisses Plea and Imposes Penalty
A bench consisting of Justices V Raja Vijayaraghavan and K V Jayakumar delivered the ruling. The bench directed the petitioner, K Narayanan Kutty of Thrissur, to remit the Rs 5,000 amount to the High Court Legal Services Committee within one month. This decision came after the court reviewed the petition's allegations and found them lacking in specific details.
Background on the Guidelines
Earlier, the Kerala High Court had issued specific guidelines for using Thekkinkadu Maidan as a venue for the 64th State School Arts Festival. The Maidan surrounds the historic Vadakkumnathan Temple in Thrissur. The court's directives included a prohibition on cutting trees within the premises. It also banned the cooking and distribution of non-vegetarian food on the grounds.
Additionally, the court mandated strict adherence to the green protocol. It instructed the Cochin Devaswom Board to deploy a team of officials to monitor compliance with these rules. These measures aimed to protect the environmental and cultural integrity of the site during the festival.
Petitioner's Allegations and Court's Observations
During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel alleged that tree branches on the Maidan were cut and removed to facilitate the event. However, the court noted that these allegations were not specifically pleaded in the petition. The bench observed that a petition lacking clear and specific facts amounts to a misuse of the court's process.
This observation led to the dismissal of the plea. The imposition of the Rs 5,000 cost serves as a deterrent against filing vague petitions. The court emphasized the importance of presenting concrete evidence when raising such environmental concerns.
Implications of the Ruling
The dismissal reinforces the court's stance on maintaining procedural rigor in environmental petitions. It highlights the need for petitioners to provide detailed and specific information to support their claims. The ruling also underscores the court's commitment to balancing festival activities with environmental protection in culturally significant areas like Thekkinkadu Maidan.
