Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan on Friday alleged that the High Court verdict ordering return of land retrieved during anti encroachment drive in Munnar, was shrouded in mystery.
He told mediapersons that the verdict given by the Chief Justice shortly before her transfer, had raised several eyebrows. “The verdict favours the encroachers. The government should take immediate steps to go in for an appeal against the verdict,'' he said.
The veteran leader said that if the government failed to challenge the verdict, he would move the Supreme Court.
Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said that appropriate follow-up action would be taken after discussing the matter with Chief Minister.
K Suresh Kumar who was the Special Officer who led the anti encroachment drive in Munnar in 2007 refused to react saying that he had not seen the verdict.
However, he said that during the one month anti encroachment drive 92 encroachments were removed and 16,000 acres government land had been retrieved from encroachers.
There were about 125 writ petitions before the High Court, in the affidavits filed in all cases the LDF Government had strongly defended the decision to remove the encroachments.
“I am not aware what happened later and how the matter was taken up ,’’ he added.
He said there was no undue haste in removing encroachments at Cloud 9. “The day when the encroachment was to be removed, the resort people had filed a writ petition before a single bench of the High Court seeking a stay on the demolition. But it was denied by the court. Later in the day they filed an appeal before the Division Bench and after hearing the argument, Justice H L Dattu gave them 24 hours. The counsel for Cloud 9 had stated that they should be given 24 hours to remove their articles.’’
The court had then directed; ”The demolition is paused where it stands today and it remains paused for 24 hours during which time they are free to remove their articles at their own expenses. And after that the demolition will continue where it was paused today.”
Following the verdict, the demolition was carried out the next morning, Mr Suresh Kumar added.
