Kerala High Court Mandates Local Bodies to Clear Overgrown Vegetation from Vacant Lots
Local bodies duty-bound to remove overgrown vegetation from vacant plots: Kerala HC
The Times Of India
Image: The Times Of India
The Kerala High Court has ruled that local bodies must quickly remove overgrown vegetation from vacant plots, which can pose dangers to residents. This decision follows a plea regarding a plot in Mavelikkara that threatened public safety, especially with rising snake bite incidents.
- 01The High Court emphasized that local bodies must act to remove overgrown vegetation regardless of the plot owner's identification.
- 02Justice P V Kunhikrishnan highlighted the growing concern of snake bites linked to unattended plots.
- 03The Kerala Panchayat Raj Act empowers village panchayats to mitigate nuisances from wild vegetation and harmful wildlife.
- 04The court ordered the Mavelikkara Thekkekara panchayat to clear the vegetation within 10 days.
- 05The ruling aims to enhance public safety as the state enters a new academic year, where snake bite incidents are increasing.
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The Kerala High Court has ruled that local self-governments are obligated to swiftly remove overgrown vegetation from vacant plots, which can become breeding grounds for snakes and pose a danger to residents. This ruling was made by Justice P V Kunhikrishnan in response to a plea from Gigi Varghese, a resident of Mavelikkara, who expressed concerns about a nearby plot threatening his family's safety. The court noted the alarming rise in snake bite incidents, particularly as the academic year begins, and linked these occurrences to neglected plots filled with wild grass. The court emphasized that local bodies cannot delay action due to the inability to identify property owners and must act under the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, which allows them to address nuisances. The Mavelikkara Thekkekara panchayat was specifically directed to clear the overgrown vegetation within 10 days, with the option to recover costs from the property owner once identified.
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The ruling aims to enhance community safety by reducing the risk of snake bites associated with overgrown plots.
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