Tsunami Rehabilitation Centres Must Remain Available for Disaster Relief and Not Commercial Use.

The petitioner, an Oor Nala Committee, sought a direction requiring the respondents to return the key to a tsunami rehabilitation centre at Kootapuli, relying on its representation dated 19 August 2026.

It stated that affected fisherfolk had been unable to shelter there during 19–20 August 2026 and sought access to prevent a recurrence.

The State submitted that the keys had been handed to the Block Development Officer on 24 September 2026 and that the petitioner lacked authority to seek them.

The Court noted that the land had been gifted and its ownership transferred, while the petitioner had not shown that it constructed the building; the respondents asserted that the Government had done so.

Whether the petitioner was entitled to a direction requiring the respondents to hand over the rehabilitation centre’s key.

Whether, notwithstanding the petitioner’s lack of established authority over the building, the respondents should be directed to ensure its availability for rehabilitation during natural calamities.

The petition was brought under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

It applies the principle that a request to control a building cannot be granted where the petitioner has not established a relevant ownership or construction-based entitlement, while requiring the public authorities to use a rehabilitation facility consistently with its intended public purpose.

The Court declined to order return of the key because the available material indicated that the land had been gifted and ownership transferred, and the petitioner had not shown that it built the centre.

The respondents’ assertion that the Government constructed it further undermined the petitioner’s claim to control the keys.

However, the centre’s purpose was to provide rehabilitation in times of crisis, warranting a direction to the respondents to keep it available for that purpose.

It directed the respondents to ensure that the building is available for rehabilitation during storms and other natural calamities, and that it is used for its intended purpose rather than for commercial purposes.