SALT MOVEMENT Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner Society has filed this writ petition seeking quashing of the decision of the State or Kerala to lease out a portion of Travancore House, New Delhi to a Private Television Channel Company, namely, M/s. Malyalam Commiunications Pvt. Ltd. Petitioners inter alia seek of writ of mandamus to the respondents, to provide facilities like reading room, library, public relations office etc. located at the Travancore House.

(2.) Petitioners claim to be an Association/Forum for social, economic, cultural and intellectual uplift and welfare of one million Keralities stated to be living in Delhi.

(3.) Learned Counsel for the petitioner Association, Mr. Mathews, has urged before me that the respondents in taking a decision to lease the premises to M/s. Malyalam Communications Ltd., running a Malyalam TV Channel, has belied the just and legitimate aspirations of a million Keralities in Delhi of having reading room, liberty and a cultural centre in the premises. Learned Counsel has also assailed the said decision on the ground that it lacked transparency as the premises are sought to be let out, without following the tender process. The action, it is alleged, is motivated to do favour to a private party which enjoys the patronage of a member of the CPM coalition Government in Kerala. Learned Counsel has also filed an additional affidavit, wherein the apprehension expressed is that the premises were being given on lease on a perpetual basis and the terms of agreement were not being disclosed. It was urged that it was not clear whether the agreed rent was Rs. 75.00 per sq. ft. p.m. or per annum.-