Judicial Officers' Cooperative Society Moves Kerala High Court Against Stop Memo Halting Construction Of Apartment For Members

Following adjournment by a Single Bench of Justice N Nagaresh on Tuesday, the case was directed to be posted on Friday.

The petitioner, the Kerala Judicial Officers' Co-operative Society, aims at promoting mutual self-help among its members, who are judicial officers in the State of Kerala, and aid in acquiring land and constructing apartments and houses for them.

In pursuance of this, the petitioner society purchased property having extent of 33.90 acres for the purpose of constructing a residential apartment for its members, obtaining a building permit for the same. Constructions were also carried out in consonance with it.

The Cochin Corporation thereafter issued a stop memo, directing the petitioner society to stall the construction activities carried out in their property on the ground that the property forms part of nilam ground. In the petition, the petitioner society avers that the property was not Nilam ground and that the stop memo was issue "without ascertaining actual state of affairs".

"Being aggrieved by the issuance of … stop memo by the 2 respondent (Secretary, Cochin Corporation), this writ petition is necessitated," the plea reads.