Govt. told to issue notification on Marine Drive monitoring panel

The Kerala High Court has directed the State government to issue a notification regarding the Marine Drive monitoring committee before October 23 to ensure the upkeep of the Marine Drive walkway and to appoint a nodal officer in this regard.

It warned of further steps being taken in contempt jurisdiction if it was not done and posted the case for hearing on October 23.

The direction came on a contempt petition by Ranjit G. Thampy of Ernakulam, citing non-implementation of the judgment passed earlier this year by the High Court in this regard. The government was supposed to notify the committee that had been constituted on the court’s directive. This has not been done, nor has the nodal officer been appointed for the upkeep of Marine Drive. Moreover, there was no response to a petition that he had sent to the government, Mr. Thampy said, in his contempt of court petition.

Expressing surprise at no steps being taken so far, the court said it expected the notification to be issued by the next date of posting, to avoid contempt action.