Demolition of Biju’s bar: Revenue sits on appealing stay

It has come to light that the revenue department has not given a final nod to file an appeal even 52 days after the verdict. According to top legal sources, the revenue department under minister Adoor Prakash is sitting on a file sent from the Advocate-General's office for an appeal.

The Kerala High Court had restrained the Thiruvananthapuram District Disaster Management Authority from proceeding further with the demolition. Justice A. Mohammed Musthaque had also ordered that the authority could interfere in accordance with the Land acquisition Act or Land Conservancy Act.

“We have sent a legal opinion for filing an appeal in the case soon after the High Court passed an order on September 23 but so far the government has not responded to the query,” a top source said.

Source added that the CM's office had intervened in the issue and has asked the department to go ahead with the appeal.

As per the report of the Executive Engineer of Irrigation Department who was in charge of the maintenance of the canal, a detailed scientific report as to the dilapidated and pathetic condition of the Thekkanankara canal was conducted. No occupation of government land is permitted whether in puramboke or not without the permission of the government, the report said.

The government had earlier submitted that Biju Ramesh was given sufficient opportunity to defend his case, including time to cross- examine the witnesses, the report said.