JUDGMENT

Petitioner seeks for police protection to demolish a structure, which earlier housed a private temple from which the deity was removed after due rituals.

2. Petitioner is the owner of 219 Ares of property in Resurvey No.20 of Block No.52 of Aluva West Village, apart from 194 Ares in Resurvey No.30 of Block No.53 of the same village. These properties belonging to the petitioner are stated to be lying as a single compact plot bounded on all sides by compound walls. The said property was purchased in the year 1953 and a textile mill was established. Subsequently, after a change of management of the textile mill in the year 1972, petitioner constructed a small building and installed a deity converting the building into a private temple. Petitioner asserts that no member of the public were permitted to worship and nor was any public fund collected or ever contributed for the construction or installation of deity at any point in time. The premises of the factory being within the confines of a compound wall and gate, there was total restriction of entry for any outsiders.

3. Petitioner alleges that in 1997, the management closed down textile mill and conduct of poojas and rituals b