Kerala High Court
K. K. Karunakaran vs State Of Kerala on 21 August, 2025
2025:KER:64267
W.P(C)No.11961 of 2023
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. NITIN JAMDAR
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE BASANT BALAJI
THURSDAY, THE 21ST DAY OF AUGUST 2025 / 30TH SRAVANA, 1947
WP(C) NO. 11961 OF 2023
PETITIONERS:
1 K. K. KARUNAKARAN, AGED 70 YEARS, S/O.KUNJUKOCH,
KALLOOPARAMBIL HOUSE, MUKKULAM, MUKKULLAM EAST P.O.,
KOKKAYAR PANCHAYATH, KOTTAYAM., PIN - 686514
2 VARKEY CHACKO, S/O OF CHACKO, VYALIL HOUSE, ELAMKADU
P.O., KOOTTICKAL, KOTTAYAM., PIN - 686512
3 REV. FR. JINO VAZHAYIL
VICAR, ST. JUDE CHURCH, YENDAYAR, MUKKULLAM, MUKKULLAM
EAST P.O., KOTTAYAM., PIN - 686514
4 K. K. SAJU
S/O KRISHNANKUTTY, SECRETARY,SNDP, BRANCH. NO. 1235,
MUKKULAM BRANCH, IDUKKI - 635111, PIN - 686514
5 P. V. VISWANATHAN, S/O VASUDEVAN, PUTHENPURACKAL
HOUSE, MEMBER OF WARD NO. XIII, YENDAYAR EAST,
KOKKAYAR PANCHAYATH, IDUKKI -, PIN - 686514
BY ADVS.
SRI.SOORAJ T.ELENJICKAL
SHRI.RENOY VINCENT
SMT.HELEN P.A.
SHRI.ARUN ROY
SRI.SHAHIR SHOWKATH ALI
SMT.STEPHANIE SHARON
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W.P(C)No.11961 of 2023
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RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT,
GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695001
2 CHIEF SECRETARY
GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-,
PIN - 695001
3 ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY (FINANCE)
FINANCE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM., PIN - 695001
4 SECRETARY
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT,GOVERNMENT OF KERALA,
SECRETARIAT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001
5 CHIEF ENGINEER
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (BRIDGES), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.,
PIN - 695001
6 DISTRICT COLLECTOR AND CHAIRPERSON
DISTRICT DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY, COLLECTORATE,
KUYILIMALA, IDUKKI, PIN - 685603
7 DISTRICT COLLECTOR AND CHAIRPERSON
DISTRICT DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY, COLLECTORATE,
KOTTAYAM, PIN - 686002
8 KOKKAYAR GRAMA PANCHAYAT
BOYCE ESTATE - KOKKAYAR ROAD, KUTTIPLANGADU, KOKKAYAR,
IDUKKI , REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PIN - 686514
9 KOOTTICKAL GRAMA PANCHAYAT
MUNDAKAYAM - KOOTTICKAL ROAD, KOOTTICKAL, KOTTAYAM,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PIN - 686514
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W.P(C)No.11961 of 2023
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BY ADVS.
SRI. V. TEKCHAND, SR.GOVERNMENT PLEADER
SHRI.JOICE GEORGE, SC, KOKKAYAR GRAMA PANCHAYAT
SRI.ABRAHAM GEORGE JACOB
SHRI.C.MURALIKRISHNAN (PAYYANUR)
SRI.JOHNSON MATHEW
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR FINAL HEARING
ON 21.08.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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W.P(C)No.11961 of 2023
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JUDGMENT
Dated this the 21st day of August 2025
NITIN JAMDAR, C.J.
Heard Mr.V.Tekchand, learned Senior Government Pleader.
2. This petition was filed by the local residents of Idukki and Kottayam
in relation to the collapse of 'Yendayar Bridge' which occurred in the year 2021.
The bridge was built in the year 1975 across the river Pullakayar at 150 meters
from Yendayar Town in Mundakayam-Mukkullam road. The Yendayar bridge
connects two districts, namely, Idukki and Kottayam and was the only means of
way for the people in the Yendayar East region to reach Yendayar town and the
rest of the world.
3. The petition came up on board on 10 April 2023 and the same was
admitted and directions were issued to the Secretary to Government, Public
Works Department to consider early disposal of the file regarding construction
of the bridge.
4. The learned Senior Government Pleader points out on the basis of
the communication No.D1/214/2023-PWD dated 7 August 2023 received
from the Public Works Department that administrative sanction for an amount
of ₹477.90 lakhs towards the re-construction of the collapsed bridge was
granted on 6 July 2023 itself. The learned Senior Government Pleader states
that pursuant to the administrative sanction, the bridge work has been
undertaken and is expected to be completed shortly.
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5. After filing of this petition, no additional affidavit has been filed.
On the last occasion also, none appeared for the Petitioners. Proceeding on the
basis that the issue now stands resolved, we dispose of the petition, reserving
liberty to the Petitioners to revive the proceedings in case any grievance
survives.
6. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of.
Sd/-
NITIN JAMDAR
CHIEF JUSTICE
Sd/-
BASANT BALAJI
JUDGE
vgd
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APPENDIX OF WP(C) 11961/2023
PETITIONERS' EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT P1 THE TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGES OF THE
BUDGET SPEECH FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2022-23
EXHIBIT P2 THE TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER ISSUED BY THE
RESPONDENT NO.5 TO THE RESPONDENT NO.4 DATED
14.10.2022
EXHIBIT P3 THE TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER ISSUED BY THE
RESPONDENT NO.5 TO THE RESPONDENT NO.4 DATED
05.11.2022
EXHIBIT P4 THE TRUE COPY OF THE COMMUNICATION ISSUED BY
THE RESPONDENT NO.4 TO THE 5TH RESPONDENT
DATED 08.12.2022
EXHIBIT P5 THE TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY SUBMITTED BY THE
5TH RESPONDENT TO THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED
15.12.2022
EXHIBIT P6 THE TRUE COPY OF THE RTI REPLY RECEIVED BY
THE PETITIONER NO.1 DATED 23.02.2023 WITH
TRUE ENGLISH TRANSLATION
EXHIBIT P7 THE TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED
BY THE PETITIONERS SUBMITTED BEFORE THE
RESPONDENT NO.2 DATED 04.03.2023
EXHIBIT P8 THE TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED
BY THE PETITIONERS SUBMITTED BEFORE THE
RESPONDENT NO.4 DATED 04.03.2023
EXHIBIT P9 THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE COLLAPSED
‘YENDAYAR BRIDGE'
RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT R8(A) COPY OF THE RESOLUTION NO. 11(2) DATED 03-05-
2023 OF THE 8TH RESPONDENT GRAMA PANCHAYAT
EXHIBIT R 9 (A) TRUE COPY OF THE EXTRACT OF DECISION NO. 9(7)
OF THE KOOTTIKKAL GRAMA PANCHAYAT DATED
10/05/2023
EXHIBIT R 9 (B) TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 05/06/2023
ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE 9TH RESPONDENT
TO THE 5TH RESPONDENT.
EXHIBIT R 9 (C) TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 05/06/2023
ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE 9TH RESPONDENT
TO THE 7TH RESPONDENT.
