Kerala High Court sets aside Park Rajadhani demolition order by DDMA

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The attempt by the district disaster management authority (DDMA) to prove that Park Rajadhani owned by bar owner Biju Ramesh stands on purmpokk land has failed as the High Court set aside the demolition order issued by the authority on Wednesday.

The High Court has nullified notices and orders issued by DDMA and directed the government to acquire the land as per Land Acquisition Act.

DDMA issued the final order directing Mr Biju Ramesh to knock down the five-storey structure on August 21 and issued 15 days’ time to carry out the demolition.

The structure stands over the Thekkanamkara canal — one of the two prime canals controlling the entire stormwater drainage system of the state capital.

The order was issued under Section 34 (K) of Disaster Management Act (DMA) by DDMA chairman V.R. Vinod, the Additional District Magistrate.

Mr Vinod told DC that the authority was yet to get the copy of the judgment issued by the HC. “The HC hasn’t quashed our order. As per the conversation I had with the government attorney we can execute the order but the land has to be acquired paying compensation to the party,” said Mr Vinod. As per the claim of the government, the structure stands on 17.5 cent purampoke land.