Kerala High Court raps collector for notices to ex-minister Thomas Chandy

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday made several critical observations against Alapuzzha district collector T.V. Anupama for serving two notices to former minister Thomas Chandy for allegedly encroaching backwaters based on factual errors. Reprimanding the collector the court has also annulled the two notices served the former minister based on wrong survey numbers. Counsel for the state government has informed the court that the survey number and the block number mentioned was wrong and expressed the willingness to withdraw the same.

Describing the action of the collector as “irresponsible” the court pointed out that the position of collector cannot be treated as that of a nursery school kid. The district collector has served the notice without even examining the basic documents and the action has shown that the official has not shown the required competence for the job, the court said. Thomas Chandy has been asked to appear in person for giving a statement on February 23, in the case connected with encroachment of backwaters against Water-world Tourism Comp-any, in which Thomas Chandy is a director. The survey and block numbers were wrong in the notice.

The collector has issued a fresh notice when the mistake was noticed. The collector had submitted the same in the court on Friday. The collector has also submitted that either the two notices would be withdrawn or cancelled. The court then cancelled the notices. The High Court had issued a stay on the notices served by the Collector on February 21 and the case was posted for hearing on Friday. The collector issued the notice against Chandy on February 17.