THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what is seen as a virtual snub to KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran, the state government on Monday refused to withdraw the controversial order allowing Poabs Group to pay basic tax on 830 acres of Karuna Plantations in Nelliampathy. Instead, in an obvious attempt to buy time, it has sought the advocate-general’s advice on whether there was any “ambiguity” in the order.
The strategy is to allow the AG to keep postponing his advice until the controversy dies down, it is said. The KPCC chief has expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision taken at the high-level meeting attended by chief minister Oommen Chandy, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash and senior revenue officials here.
The government had in 2014 filed a strong counter in the High Court against the Poabs Group where it had stated that the basic tax should not be accepted from the group, and also that action should be taken against officials who had abetted in the encroachment.
“When the state’s legal team had already taken a considered stand in the court, what other advice is the government expecting from the AG,” a leading lawyer asked. The revenue minister said that a decision would be taken in the next cabinet meeting, but the AG is expected to sit on the advice for some time.
