Court mandates adherence to heritage conservation principles and technical scrutiny in repairs of significant educational institutions.

ORDER

Raja Vijayaraghavan V., J.

This Devaswom Board Petition is filed on the basis of the report submitted by the Ombudsman, wherein approval was sought for the estimate pertaining to the repair of the Main Block (H Block) of Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, Kerala.

2. It appears that the Ombudsman, after perusing the application filed by the Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB), granted permission to carry out the repairs, subject to certain conditions.

3. When the matter came up for consideration on 21.11.2025, this Court noted that the proposed repair work concerns Classroom Nos. 113, 114, 116A, 116B and 116C of Sree Kerala Varma College. The photographs placed before this Court revealed that the roof, rafters and tiles of all these classrooms were in a n acutely dilapidated condition. The report of the Principal of the College discloses that not less than 500 students pursue their studies in these classrooms. Since the m ethod adopted by the Engineers of the Maramath Wing did not i nspire confidence, we directed the Executive Engineer to appear before us on 26.11.2025 and place before this Court detailed sketches, documents revealing the existing condition of the structure, and the specific reasons for opting for a truss-based construction for these blocks.

4. The Executive Engineer as well as t he Assistant Executive Engineer appeared before this Court on 26.11.2025 and produced the files of the Engineering Wing of the Cochin Devaswom B oard relating to the proposed repair of the Main Block.

5. We have perused the proceedings in the file, the report of the Principal-in-Charge, the abstract and detailed estimates prepared by the Maramath Wing, and the photographs.

6. At the outset, we must record our deep concern and dismay at the present condition of the buildings of Sree Kerala Varma College. From the official web page of the College, we note that a group of public-spirited citizens had approached the then Maharaja of Cochin, Sri Kerala Varma XV (Aikya Keralam Thampuran), seeking support to establish an institution of higher learning in Thrissur. His Highness responded with extraordinary generosity. He granted the free use of the Merry Lodge Palace and its extensive grounds, sanctioned a free grant of One lakh rupees from Devaswom Funds, a loan of Rupees Four lakhs for capital expenditure (later converted into a free grant), and 250 candies of timber for construction. In recognition of this remarkable patronage, the institution was named Sree Kerala Varma College. The Maharaja himself inaugurated the College on 11 August 1947.

7. We find that the central landmark of the campus is the Merry Lodge Palace, originally the palace and summer retreat of the Maharaja of Cochin, a structure of high architectural merit and significant heritage value.

8. However, the photographs placed before us of the Main Block, Physical Education Block, Merry Lodge Palace, Hostel Block and Botany Block reveal a shocking state of neglect, deterioration and structural degeneration. What is even more astonishing is that the College website continues to display images of these buildings in their original glory, bearing no resemblance to their present, dilapidated condition.

9. The state of the Main Block, in particular, is pitiable, if not alarming. We are unable to comprehend how the Cochin Devaswom Board, which is entrusted with the administration and u pkeep of this historic institution of higher learning, has permitted matters to deteriorate to such an extent