Kerala High Court
Rosy Kochappu vs State Of Kerala on 8 February, 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR
MONDAY, THE 08TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2021 / 19TH MAGHA,1942
WP(C).No.22589 OF 2020(W)
PETITIONER:
ROSY KOCHAPPU,
AGED 75 YEARS
W/O. (LATE) SRI KOCHAPPU ALIAS OUSEPH, KACHAPPILLY
HOUSE, KARUKUTTY VILLAGE, PALISSERY KARA, KARUKUTTY
PANCHAYAT, EZHATTUMUGHAM P.O, PIN CODE 683577,
ERNAKULAM DISTRICT.
BY ADV. SRI.GEORGE ZACHARIAH ERUTHICKEL
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT OF
KERALA, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
695 001
2 THE DISTRICT CO-ORDINATOR,
LIFE MISSION RESIDENTIAL SCHEME FOR THE LAND LESS,
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT MISSION, THIRD FLOOR, CIVIL
STATION, KAKKANADU, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN CODE 682
030
3 THE BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OFFICER,
ANGAMALY BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, ANGAMALI P.O, PIN
CODE 683572
4 ANGAMALI BLOCK PANCHAYAT
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT 680
308
5 THE VILLAGE EXTENSION OFFICER,
KARUKUTTY GRAMA PANCHAYAT, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT 680 308
6 KARUKUTTY GRAMA PANCHAYAT,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT 680
308
7 A.S BABU,
AGED 60 YEARS
S/O. SENSLAVOSE, AIYIROOKKARAN, PALISSERI,
WP(C).No.22589 OF 2020(W)
2
EZHATTUMUGHAM P.O, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT 683577
R6 BY ADV. SRI.G.SANTHOSH KUMAR (P).
R7 BY ADV. SRI.E.C.POULOSE
R7 BY ADV. SMT.BOBBY RAPHEAL.C
R1 TO R7 BY ADV.SRI.K.J.MANURAJ, GP
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 08-
02-2021, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C).No.22589 OF 2020(W)
3
W.P.(C) No.22589 of 2020
----------------------------------------------
JUDGMENT
Ext.P1 is a scheme formulated by the State Government for
providing housing facilities to people from economically weaker sections
and low income groups. Having found that the petitioner satisfies the
eligibility criteria, her name was included in the list prepared by the sixth
respondent Panchayat for extending the benefits of the scheme. As per the
scheme, on obtaining assignment deed in respect of the house plot by the
beneficiary, sale consideration would be disbursed to the vendor of the
beneficiary by the competent authority under the scheme. Accordingly, the
petitioner obtained sale deed in respect of a house plot from one Antu. In
the meanwhile, a complaint has been received by the fifth respondent from
the seventh respondent stating that the petitioner is not eligible for the
benefits under the scheme. In the light of the said complaint, the sale
consideration of the house plot obtained by the petitioner has not been
disbursed to her vendor. In the enquiry conducted by the fifth respondent
later on the said complaint, it was found that the husband of the petitioner
was holding a land and the said land has been settled by the husband in
favour of the daughter of the petitioner and that the petitioner is residing
with her daughter in the said land. The fifth respondent has, accordingly,
WP(C).No.22589 OF 2020(W)
made a report to that effect to the second respondent, the District Co-
Ordinator of the scheme and on the basis of the said report, the second
respondent issued Ext.P11 communication to the fourth respondent
informing that the petitioner is not eligible for the benefit of the scheme.
Later, the third respondent issued Ext.P12 communication to the sixth
respondent reiterating the same, placing reliance on Ext.P11 communication.
The petitioner is aggrieved Exts.P11 and P12 communications. The
petitioner also seeks a declaration that she is eligible for the benefit of the
scheme.
2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned
Government pleader, the learned Standing Counsel for the sixth respondent
Panchayat as also the learned counsel for the seventh respondent.
3. The fact that the husband of the petitioner had an item of
property is not disputed by the petitioner. Similarly, the fact that the
husband of the petitioner had settled that property in favour of the daughter
of the petitioner is also not disputed by the petitioner. To a specific query
from the court as to whether the daughter of the petitioner still holds that
land, the answer given by the learned counsel for the petitioner was in the
affirmative.
4. The relevant clause in Ext.P1 scheme dealing with the
eligibility reads thus:
"ഭഭൂരഹഹിത ഭവനരഹഹിതരരുടടെ അർഹതതാ മതാനദണണ്ഡം
1. സസ്വന്തമതായഹി / കരുടെരുണ്ഡംബതാണ്ഡംഗങ്ങളരുടടെ പപേരഹിൽ വസരു
ഇലസ്ലതാത്തവർ / പേരമ്പരതാഗതമതായഹി ഭഭൂമഹി കകമതാറഹി കഹിടതാൻ
സതാധസ്യത ഇലസ്ലതാത്തവർ.
WP(C).No.22589 OF 2020(W)
2. പറഷൻ കതാർഡസ് ഉള്ള കരുടെരുണ്ഡംബണ്ഡം (ഒരരു പറഷൻ കതാർഡഹിനസ് ഒരരു
ഭവനണ്ഡം).
3. കരുടെരുണ്ഡംബ വരരുമതാനണ്ഡം 3 ലക്ഷത്തഹിൽ തതാടഴെ ഉള്ളവർ.
4. സർകതാർ/ അർദ്ധ സർകതാർ / ടപേതാതരുപമഖലതാ
സതാപേനങ്ങളഹിടല ജജീവനകതാർ/ ടപേൻഷൻ വതാങ്ങരുന്നവർ ഉള്ള
കരുടെരുണ്ഡംബണ്ഡം അകതാൻ പേതാടെഹിലസ്ല.
5. സസ്വകതാരസ്യ ആവശസ്യത്തഹിനസ് നതാലരു ചകസ്ര വതാഹനണ്ഡം
ഉണതാകതാൻ പേതാടെഹിലസ്ല.
6. അവകതാശഹികൾകസ് വസരുഭതാഗണ്ഡം ടചയസ്ത സതാഹചരസ്യത്തഹിൽ
സസ്വന്തണ്ഡം പപേരഹിൽ സതാപങതഹികമതായഹി ഭഭൂമഹിയഹിലസ്ല എന്ന
കതാരണത്തതാൽ ഭഭൂരഹഹിതരതായവർ അർഹരലസ്ല."
As discernible from the extracted clause, even a person who does not have
any land cannot claim the benefit of the scheme, if any one of his/her family
members is holding a land. In so far as it is admitted that the daughter of
the petitioner is holding a land, the petitioner cannot be said to be a person
who is eligible to get the benefit of Ext.P1 scheme.
5. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted
that the daughter of the petitioner who is married away cannot be regarded
as a member of the family of the petitioner and pointed out that the
committee of the Panchayat has resolved to take necessary steps to confer
the benefit of the scheme to the petitioner. Ext.P10 is the resolution adopted
by the committee in this regard. The word "കരുടെരുണ്ഡംബതാണ്ഡംഗങ്ങൾ" used in
Ext.P1 scheme is not defined in the scheme. In so far as Ext.P1 is a scheme
formulated by the State Government, it is for the State Government to
define the scope of the said word. Two clauses in Ext.P1 scheme which are
relevant in the context read thus:
.
" ഗസ്രതാമ/മരുനഹിസഹിപ്പൽ ടസകസ്രടറഹിമതാർ അർഹരതായവരരുടടെയരുണ്ഡം
അനർഹരതായവരരുടടെയരുണ്ഡം ലഹിസസ് ടതതാടടെരുത്ത ഭരണസമഹിതഹി
WP(C).No.22589 OF 2020(W)
പയതാഗങ്ങളഹിൽ സമർപ്പഹിപകണതതാണസ്. അനർഹരതായവരരുടടെ
കതാരസ്യത്തഹിൽ ഭരണസമഹിതഹികസ് വസ്യതസ്യസ അഭഹിപേസ്രതായമരുടണങഹിൽ
നഹിയമപേസ്രകതാരമരുള്ള തജീരരുമതാനങ്ങൾ എടെരുകതാവരുന്നതരുണ്ഡം
ആവശസ്യടമങഹിൽ സർകതാരഹിനസ് റഫർ ടചയസ്യതാവരുന്നതരുമതാണസ്.
. ഏതരു സതാഹചരസ്യത്തഹിലരുണ്ഡം അനർഹർകസ് ആനരുകഭൂലസ്യണ്ഡം
നൽകഹിയതാൽ തജീരരുമതാനടമടെരുത്ത ഭരണ സമഹിതഹി അണ്ഡംഗങ്ങൾകരുണ്ഡം
ടസകസ്രടറഹികരുണ്ഡം ആയരഹികരുണ്ഡം അതഹിൻടറ ബതാധസ്യത ."
A combined reading of the clauses aforesaid would indicate that though the
Panchayat is free to take a decision as to the eligibility of the applicant, the
same shall be in accordance with the scheme. In other words, in case of
doubt, the Panchayat is free to refer the matter for appropriate decision by
the Government.
In the circumstances, the writ petition is only to be dismissed
and I do so. It is, however, made clear that this judgment will not preclude
the Panchayat from making a reference of the issue relating to the eligibility
of the petitioner to the Government and extending the benefits of the
scheme to the petitioner, if the Government issues appropriate clarifications
in this regard.
Sd/-
P.B.SURESH KUMAR
Mn JUDGE
WP(C).No.22589 OF 2020(W)
APPENDIX
PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS:
EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF G.O(MS) NO. 92/2019/L. S.G.D
DATED 16-07-2019
EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE DATED 30-08-
2019, ISSUED FROM THE VILALGE OFFICE,
KARUKUTTY
EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE DATED 24-02-
2020, ISSUED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE 6TH
RESPONDENT.
EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE PETITION DATED 24-02-2020
SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 5TH
RESPONDENT, ON WHCH THE INCLUSION OF THE
NAME OF THE PETITIONER IN THE LIST OF
HOUSELESS AND LANDLESS PERSONS SELECTED
UNDER THE LIFE MISSION PROJECT VIDE NO. LF
0716258/7/637/6 WAS REPORTED BY THE 5TH
RESPONDENT
EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF THE REGISTERED LAND PURCHASE
DEED DATED 28-02-2020, BBEARING S.R.O NO.
516 OF 2020 OF THE ANGAMALY SUB REGISTRY
EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT DATED 13-03-2020
SHOWING REMITTANCE OF TAX FOR THE LAND
PURCHASED AS PER EXT.P5
EXHIBIT P7 TRUE COPY OF THE POSSESSION CERTIFICATE OF
THE LAND PURCHASED AS PER EXT P5, DATED 16-
03-2020
EXHIBIT P8 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER ISSUED BY THE 5TH
RESPONDENT, ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF EXTS.
P5,P6 AND P7
EXHIBIT P9 TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY DATED 14-05-2020
GIVEN BY THE 5TH RESPONDENT TO THE 6TH
RESPONDENT GRAMA PANCHAYAT, WITH A COVERING
LETTER DATED 01-06-2020 OF THE PUBLIC
INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE 6TH RESPONDENT.
EXHIBIT P10 TRUE COPY OF THE EXTRACT OF THE DECISION OF
THE 6TH RESPONDENT DATED 20-02-2020
EXHIBIT P11 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 01-06-2020,
WP(C).No.22589 OF 2020(W)
ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT TO THE 4TH
RESPONDENT
EXHIBIT P12 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 09-06-2020
ISSUED TO THE 6TH RESPONDENT, BY THE 3RD
RESPONDENT
EXHIBIT P13 TRUE COPY OF THE SALE DEED, BEARING NO.
5871 OF ANGAMALI SUB DISTRICT, DATED 28-11-
2008, EXECUTED BETWEEN LATE SRI KOCHAPPU
ALIAS JOSEPH, AND SMT. SHINY
EXHIBIT P14 TRUE COPY OF THE AGREEMENT DATED 22-07-2020
EXECUTED BETWEEN THE PETITIONER AND THE
PERSON, WHO SOLD THE LAND TO HER.
//TRUE COPY//
PA TO JUDGE
