CM Pinarayi Vijayan stand on Kerala Law Academy land raises eyebrows

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s statement that the government would not examine the Law Academy Law College land issue has raised many eyebrows especially with revenue department’s preliminary report pointing to instances of misuse of land by the management. Many fear that chief minister’s words that there was no question of going into the Law Academy Land issue will adversely impact revenue department’s ongoing probe into the allegations of misuse of land raised by veteran leader V.S. Achuthanandan.

The preliminary report submitted by the taluk surveyor has reportedly pointed out misuse of land. Sources said the construction of residential area, hotel and other structures on the land were in violation of the norms laid down while giving the land for academic purposes. Observers say the chief minister’s statement backing the law academy amounted to giving a clean chit before the completion of the inquiry and also bringing the officials under pressure. With the revenue minister contradicting the chief minister’s statement, the differences within the government over the issue have come out in the open.

Mr Achuthandnan has out rightly rejected the chief minister’s statement. “The chief minister statement is totally wrong. If government land is encroached upon by anyone or misused, then it should be taken back. This is government’s primary responsibility," he said. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said that irrespective of what the chief minister has stated on the issue, the government would go ahead with the probe. He said in the event of any irregularity or misuse of land, action would be taken accordingly.