Munnar: The Kerala High Court has imposed an additional fine on a lodge owner who was previously penalized by the Munnar Panchayat for illegally dumping waste into a river. The owner, Francis Milton of Eight Land Holidays Lodge in Ikkana Nagar, faced a substantial increase in his penalty after appealing the initial fine of Rs 50,000.
The Munnar Panchayat had initially levied the Rs 50,000 fine following the discovery on May 23 that waste materials were being dumped into the river adjacent to the lodge. Milton challenged this decision in the High Court, arguing that the building was not registered in his name but belonged to his father, and therefore he should not be held responsible for the offense.
However, the Panchayat presented documented evidence to the court, clearly demonstrating that the license to operate the lodge was issued in Francis Milton’s name. Based on this crucial finding, the High Court not only upheld the original fine but also imposed an additional penalty of Rs 50,000, bringing the total fine to Rs 1 lakh. The court further directed that this increased amount be remitted to the Kerala State Legal Services Authority.