J U D G M E N T

The petitioner holds an item of land measuring 2.34 Ares within the limits of the first respondent Grama Panchayat. He proposes to put up a residential building in the said land. The grievance of the petitioner in the writ petition is that the application preferred by the petitioner for grant of building permit for the said purpose is not being considered by the second respondent Grama Panchayat as he has not obtained a permit for development of the land. The case of the petitioner, in essence, is that he need not have to develop the land in any manner as provided for in Rule 2(ae) of the Kerala Panchayat Building Rules , 2019 and therefore, the second respondent cannot insist the petitioner to obtain a development permit for the purpose of considering his application for building permit.

2. On 24.09.2020, this court passed the following interim order:

"Standing Counsel to get instructions as to whether the petitioner needs to undertake any activity falling within the scope of 'development of land' as defined under Rule 2(ae) of the Kerala Panchayat Building Rules , 2019, for the purpose of putting up the building proposed by him.

List this matter next week."

3. Today,