SAJU VARGHESE Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The ownership of "Udaya Library and Reading Room " in Koodaranji, Kozhikode is the issue raised by the petitioner in this writ petition.

(2.) The petitioner states that the Library was constructed after the petitioner 's father transferred the property to the President of Udaya Library and Reading Room, in the year 1959. The Library was registered with erstwhile Kerala Granthasala Sangham. On the enactment of the Kerala Public Libraries Act, 1989, the property and the library vested with the Kerala State Library Council.

(3.) The administration of the Library was taken over by the Panchayat at some point of time. Later, the library stopped functioning. The Panchayat leased the library building as shops and realised rentals. Now, the Panchayat is going to demolish the whole building to construct public toilet and bus shelter. Representations were submitted to the Panchayat authorities, District Collector, Minister for Local Self Government Institutions, etc. But, the Panchayat is going ahead with the construction of toilet demolishing the Library Building.