Why Kochi Corporation and historic Cochin Gymnasium appear headed for a bout over rent

The Kochi Corporation in Keralam and the Cochin Gymnasium in west Kochi appear headed for a collision course over the civic body’s decision to levy a nominal rent on the gym, which has been operating rent-free since its founding before Independence.

The gym authorities have categorically declined the rental arrangement, which they perceive as an attempt to “subordinate” the legacy institution to the writ of the Corporation. Formed under the Societies Registration Act in April 1945, the Cochin Gymnasium functions within the premises of the Mattancherry Nehru Memorial Town Hall, owned by the Corporation.

The gym’s free functioning came under scrutiny after the Corporation’s audit report for 2018-19 listed it among civic assets being alienated. The absence of any rental agreement was described as a serious lapse and evidence of the Corporation’s ignorance regarding encroachment of its buildings. The audit report even called for the initiation of civil and criminal proceedings in the matter. Subsequently, moves were made to acquire the gymnasium’s building.

However, taking into account a memorandum submitted by Cochin Gymnasium president V.S. Shihabudheen, the Corporation has now decided to ‘regularise’ its functioning through a formal rental agreement. The matter will come up for council approval on September 10, 2026. “We have decided the gym to operate on a nominal monthly rent of ₹500 considering its historic legacy. The gymnasium will have to enter into a formal rental agreement with the Corporation Secretary,” said Mayor V.K. Minimol.

Mr. Shihabudheen, however, said he was not aware of any such decision. “We had already requested the Corporation not to collect rent, since our formation predates the establishment of the Ernakulam municipality and Corporation. The Corporation has neither played a role in our formation nor extended any assistance in the past 81 years. Once we agree to a rental agreement, we will be subjected to Corporation diktats in the future, including potential demolition,” he said.

One of the oldest gymnasiums in Kerala, originally established by reclaiming a pond for British officers and captains of ships anchoring at Kochi port, it has since produced athletes of national and international repute, earning the sobriquet 'Wrestling Factory of Kerala.’

Among its celebrated products are S. Divya, the first woman wrestler from Kerala; Anas Hussain, professional bodybuilder and Mr. Asia title winner; Aswin Shetty, gold medallist at the WBPF Mr. World Bodybuilding Championship; and Revathy Prakash, gold medallist at the Asia Pacific African Classic & Equipped Powerlifting Championship.

“We provide free training in wrestling, powerlifting, boxing, judo, Kalaripayattu, bodybuilding, arm wrestling, and skating, thereby keeping youngsters away from the menace of drugs. We only charge a nominal monthly fee of ₹300 for using our gym,” said Mr. Shihabudheen.

Deputy Mayor and Finance Standing Committee Chairperson V.R. Sudheer said that if the gym authorities decline to pay rent, the Corporation would have to deny them the right to use the space.

Pravitha Vijayakumar, BJP councillor for Cheralayi division, also supported charging rent. Civic bodies, she said, must look to generate revenue from their assets to sustain development works.