Oommen Chandy steps in to aid family of Wayanad farmer
DC had carried a report on the plight of the farmer on November 29
KOZHIKODE: A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday decided to speed up steps to vacate the stay order and other legal impediments to ensure the right of the late farmer Kanjirathinal George over 12 acres land in Wayanad district.
The meeting was called against the backdrop of the 107-day agitation by Treesa, daughter of Kanjirathinal George and family in front of the Wayanad collectorate demanding steps to ensure their right on the land.
DC had carried a report on the plight of the farmer on November 29. Though top officials of the forest department raised objections against the move citing pending cases in the High Court and repeated court verdicts against the farmer, the chief minister clarified that the land was registered way back in 1967 even before the Vesting and Assignment Act came into force which established the right of the farmer family over the land.
On the legal impediments, Mr Chandy directed the law department and forest department to take steps to clear the pending cases as soon as possible.
“Why did you fail to remove the legal wrangles despite a direction from the earlier government?’ Mr Chandy asked the forest officials.
“There are many points in favour of the farmer family,” he said and added that when all the political parties come united for a hapless family and a government takes a decision after following all the procedures, we have no right to further deny justice to the family,” Mr Chandy said.
Even after the government order in 2007, the forest department had issued a notification vesting the land in 2013 citing another court verdict, revenue officials pointed out.
Minister for backward communities P.K. Jayala-kshmi, revenue minister Adoor Prakash, principal chief conservator of forests (head of forest forces) B.S. Corrie, principal secretary to department of environment P. Mara Pandyan, Wayanad deputy collector K. Vijayan, son Thomas George of late Kanjirathinal George, son-in-law James, Wayanad DCC president K.L. Poulose and representatives of Wayanad Press Club also participated in the meeting.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
