RAMAKRISHNAN PONNIAH Vs. EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition styled as public interest litigation seeks for a direction upon the respondents not to lease out temporary shops in the seashore or anywhere close to the sea and to shift the seasonal shops to any other unobjectionable place.

(2.) The petitioner, who is a resident of Agasteeswaram in Kanyakumari District, claims to be a social responsible person and seeks to protect the natural resources and for such purpose, he has filed this writ petition as a public interest litigation.

(3.) The petitioner would state that for the past few years, Kanyakumari Town Panchayat is leasing out temporary shops during the season for 60 days along the seashore from Sannathi Street to Siluvai Nagar in Beach Road. It is submitted that this practice was initially started to help the Tibetan people in exile. Later, the politicians took over and as of now, it has become a money-spinning exercise. The auction conducted by the Town Panchayat is an eyewash. Many of the shops are taken in auction at a very cheap rate and sub-leased to persons coming from North India for a huge profit. Therefore, it is submitted that the Town Panchayat is not benefited on account of the auction, but certain private persons and politically influenced persons are enriching themselves.