THE SECRETARY Vs. DEPUTY DIRECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A petition filed by the Cochin Devaswom Board before the learned Ombudsman for Cochin - Travancore Devaswom Boards has now lead to a report, dated 29.06.2018, by the learned Ombudsman to be placed before us.

(2.) In the petition, the Cochin Devaswom Board had sought permission to construct a compound wall to protect an area called 'Pattapravarthy compound' belonging to the Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple at an estimated cost of Rs. 14,50,000/-. This project has already obtained the sanction of the Cochin Devaswom Board and the said sanction has been enclosed as Annexure A2 along with the report of the learned Ombudsman.

(3.) However, since the area in question is suspected to be part of a notified area under the provisions of the Kerala Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, it was thought that the permission of the second respondent, namely, the Competent Authority under the Archaeology department of the union of India was required. The learned Ombudsman has found that a request to the Competent Authority was made as early as on 18.02.2017, along with a plan, but that its sanction has not yet been obtained. He has also recorded that the Competent Authority of the Archaeology department has not responded to his request for information and he has produced a letter by the said Authority as Annexure O1.