Raja Vijayaraghavan V, J.

This matter pertains to the exchange of property owned by the Vellappattukavu Devaswom with the property of one Santhosh Mathew and the preparation of an exchange deed. The Ombudsman has referred the matter to this Court for appropriate directions to the RDO, Pala, to fix the market value and for further directions to the Board to take such steps as are required under law, as directed in the judgment of this Court in DBP No. 180 of 2012.

2. When the matter was taken up, it was submitted by the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the Travancore Devaswom Board that the RDO, Pala, as per proceedings vide No. L1-3240/2022 dated 20.02.2023 (produced as Ext.R1(a)), has fixed the fair value of the property at ₹10 lakhs per Are.

3. We find that a sum of ₹6 lakhs had been paid to the Devaswom Board as early as on 15.06.2013, and the TDB challan evidencing such payment was also produced before the Ombudsman. However, on the ground that the RDO had not fixed the fair value, the exchange deed was not executed. We are of the view that, in view of the fixation of the fair value by the RDO, directions can be issued to the parties to execute the exchange deed in terms of