Kochi: In a major setback to former Idukki MP Joyce George, Devikulam sub-collector Renu Raj has cancelled the title deed and thandaper of the land in the name of Mr George and kin in Kottakkambur village in Idukki district.
The order of the sub-collector states that Mr George had become the custodian of the land as per the Kerala Land Rules 1964. The sub-rules of the same rules state that the land can only be assigned to persons who are in possession and had been using the land before 1971 August 1. Lakshmi, wife of Subrahmanian, Kottakkambur, had exchanged 01.6107 hectare land in block number 58 and 120 thandaper to Mr George who holds the thandaper now.
The sub-collector has said that Mr George hadnot been able to fairly establish that he could become the custodian of the land by getting it from Lakshmi in 1968 and he has been using it for agricultural purposes since. The mahassar in the case was prepared in the year 2000 where it is registered that he was 32 years old. So it can be easily assumed that he was just born when the said transaction was held, the order said.
Even if it is assumed that he was born, it is strange to note that he took custody of the fallow land and undertook farming activities, the order added.
In the order issued separately to five members of the family, the sub-collector said that the title deeds are being cancelled as per the Land Assignment Rules 1964. Earlier, Mr George and the family members had failed to appear before the sub-collector with documents on January 10, in the last chance given to them.
The proceedings to verify the documents and title deeds were initiated as per the report of Additional Chief Secretary Revenue Nivedita P. Haran that forged documents were created to claim land ownership in the ecologically sensitive area. The title deeds of the land owned by Mr George and kin were cancelled by the then sub-collector V.R.Premkumar on September 9, 2017. Mr George then approached the Land Revenue Commissioner to cancel the order who in turn asked Dr Renu Raj to review the process. It is estimated that Mr George and family members together held 20 acres there.
