The Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court on Thursday convicted three former employees of the city Corporation and a building owner for their roles in permitting and executing an unauthorised building project within Corporation limits, the court record showed.
Verdict and punishment
Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) Manoj delivered the verdict, holding the accused guilty of offences arising from the sanction and execution of construction that violated the Kerala Municipality Building Regulations. The court sentenced the three former Corporation officials to a total of four years’ rigorous imprisonment under various sections, with each official fined ₹1,00,000. The building owner, identified as G. Mohandas, 79 of Kowdiar, was also sentenced to four years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹2,00,000, the case documents said.
The three former Corporation employees are named as J. Jayashankar, 63, former Assistant Planning Officer (Town Planning wing); V. Sasidharan Nair, 63, former Building Inspector; and R. Sankaran, 67, former upper division clerk.
Facts of the case
Vigilance investigators found that Mr. Mohandas obtained a permit by influencing the concerned officials to approve renovation works at a property in Vanchiyoor village, within the Corporation limits. The permit, it was established, was used as a pretext to entirely demolish the existing structure and erect a new four‑storey building without complying with statutory requirements. The probe concluded that these actions led to financial gains for the owner while depriving the Corporation of tax revenue lawfully due.
“The building owner had made financial gains without paying the tax due to the Corporation as per the law and the Corporation had suffered a loss in the tax revenue,” the Vigilance findings state.
Legal and civic implications
The conviction highlights persistent concerns around regulatory compliance, checks in sanctioning processes and the risk of collusion between private parties and public officials. Illegal constructions in densely populated urban wards can create safety hazards, disrupt urban planning and undermine municipal finances that fund local services.
Local authorities and urban planners will face renewed scrutiny over permit issuance procedures and enforcement of building norms. The case may prompt the Corporation and the state’s municipal administration to review internal controls, digital records and cross‑verification mechanisms to prevent similar breaches.
Sentence summary
| Person | Age | Role | Sentence | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Jayashankar | 63 | Former Assistant Planning Officer | Rigorous imprisonment (part of total 4 years) | ₹1,00,000 |
| V. Sasidharan Nair | 63 | Former Building Inspector | Rigorous imprisonment (part of total 4 years) | ₹1,00,000 |
| R. Sankaran | 67 | Former UDC | Rigorous imprisonment (part of total 4 years) | ₹1,00,000 |
| G. Mohandas | 79 | Building owner (Kowdiar) | Rigorous imprisonment (4 years) | ₹2,00,000 |
The court record indicates the sentences were imposed under various sections applicable to abuse of office, fraud on public revenue and violations of municipal building controls. The precise statutory provisions and any appeal directions were set out in the verdict order.
The case, investigated by the Vigilance wing, underscores the priority being given to corruption linked with urban development. It is likely to influence ongoing efforts by the Corporation to tighten oversight and preserve municipal revenue streams devoted to civic services.
Further procedural steps, including whether the convicts will seek relief from higher courts, were not detailed in the judgment summary made available with the court order.
