The Kuthaka rights in question are for running paid cloakrooms at the east and west entrances and a free footwear counter at the south entrance of the temple.
By a judgment dated September 19, 2023, the High Court had set aside an order of the Committee which had granted the Kuthaka rights for 2023-24, without conducting a tender, to the same co-operative society which had run it during the previous year at a rate 5% above the last year’s 18% GST and 5% security deposit.
The High Court had also directed the Committee to issue a tender notification and complete the exercise within two months.
In January this year, a contempt petition was filed by one KV Pramod alleging that the Committee had not complied with the directions of the Court.
He claimed that the Guruvayur Multi-purpose Co-operative Society had continued to operate the cloak rooms and footwear counter for the year 2023-24, without any tender process at rupees ₹65,55,555 plus 18% GST.
However, the Court was subsequently informed that the tender process has been conducted and the highest big received was pf ₹1.5 crores.
Recording the same, the Court closed the contempt case.
Source: Barandbench
