RAJESHKUMAR Vs. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE captioned writ petitions, except WP(C) Nos.27039 of 2012 and 27051 of 2012, are by contractors, who have been awarded the right to collect parking fee from the Hill Top, Thriveni, Chakkupalam I and Chakkupalam II as well as from Nilakkal, the 5 parking lots, in connection with the Sabarimala pilgrimage.

(2.) AT the outset, we may say that in so far as Nilakkal is concerned, there is a comprehensive system in place, where the Government has provided 110 hectares of land to the Devaswom Board. That land is utilized for parking of vehicles including by classifying the area to be utilized by vehicles coming from different States. There are provisions for skeletal support to the drivers and other staff of such vehicles. There are also some stalls providing food etc., in Nilakkal.

(3.) CONSIDERABLE arguments are advanced on behalf of the writ petitioners in WP(C) Nos.27051 of 2012 and 27039 of 2012 that there is absolutely no quid pro quo as regards the parking fee and the facilities provided. That argument lies sandwiched with the grievance focused in WP(C) No.27051 of 2012 that the auctioning out of the collection of parking fee was merely an eye-wash, and there was really no competition, and that has led to a depleted amount being fixed as the contract amount, when compared to what it was during the previous year.