Nilakkal parking contractor fired by Devaswom board

KOCHI: The Devaswom Board has informed the High Court that it has taken over the collection of parking fees after sacking the parking ground contractor at Nilakkal in Sabarimala. The High Court has directed the Sabarimala Executive Officer to file a detailed affidavit within two days stating the amount paid by the contractor and the details of the bank account related to the transactions. A division bench comprising of Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice Ajith Kumar will hear the petition again today.

The High Court considered the petition filed by the contractor Sajeevan, a native of Sooranad, last day as the Devaswom administrator has issued a notice demanding the balance of the auction amount for the parking ground at Nilakkal.

The Division bench later found that the petitioner had approached the High Court concealing the fact that the contract was taken without providing a bank guarantee for the balance of the auction amount. The Division bench criticized the Devaswom commissioner and Executive Officer for gross negligence in taking action against the contractor who failed to pay the balance of the bid amount, interest and bank guarantee. It was also suggested to inform the court after taking action. Following this, the contractor was fired. The board had informed the court last night that the contractor had incurred arrears of Rs 1.32 crore including the balance of the bid amount and interest.