Thiruvananthapuram: The move to start farming on the ‘Aranmula Airport land’ is likely to be a laborious task, with the government yet to retrieve the controversial area. Though the Kozhencherry Taluk Land Board (TLB) had issued a directive to take back around 240 acres of the controversial land after it was declared ‘excess’, the same was challenged and the case is still pending before the High Court.
“The ceiling case is pending before the High Court. The government is yet to retrieve the excess land,’’ Kozhencherry TLB chairman M A Rahim told Express. The government can go ahead with the farming initiative only if the land is retrieved; otherwise, the arbitrary action could be challenged in court.
After the TLB declared a total of 232 acres bought by the KGS Group, promoters of the controversial airport, as excess land, the High Court had, on November 27, 2013, quashed the order and directed the board to reconsider and take a fresh decision within six months. However, the TLB has not yet issued a revised order. Highly-placed sources said that since 2013, the TLB had been seeking more time for the execution of the court order. They said that the only way for the government now is to convene the TLB again and issue a revised order for taking back the excess land. And once the TLB declares it as excess land, it has to be ratified by the State Land Board, after which the land could be retrieved. However, the sources said that it was not going to be an easy task as there is a possibility of it being challenged again in court. Though the Board had enough time for hearing Abraham Kalamannil, the original owner, as directed by the High Court and those opposing the project, the TLB is alleged to have wasted three long years. Express had earlier reported about the delay of the TLB in issuing a revised order with respect to the excess land of KGS Group. The delay had raised concerns that it was for granting exemption to the business group in violation of the Kerala Land Reforms Act.
14/06/16 New Indian Express
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“The ceiling case is pending before the High Court. The government is yet to retrieve the excess land,’’ Kozhencherry TLB chairman M A Rahim told Express. The government can go ahead with the farming initiative only if the land is retrieved; otherwise, the arbitrary action could be challenged in court.
After the TLB declared a total of 232 acres bought by the KGS Group, promoters of the controversial airport, as excess land, the High Court had, on November 27, 2013, quashed the order and directed the board to reconsider and take a fresh decision within six months. However, the TLB has not yet issued a revised order. Highly-placed sources said that since 2013, the TLB had been seeking more time for the execution of the court order. They said that the only way for the government now is to convene the TLB again and issue a revised order for taking back the excess land. And once the TLB declares it as excess land, it has to be ratified by the State Land Board, after which the land could be retrieved. However, the sources said that it was not going to be an easy task as there is a possibility of it being challenged again in court. Though the Board had enough time for hearing Abraham Kalamannil, the original owner, as directed by the High Court and those opposing the project, the TLB is alleged to have wasted three long years. Express had earlier reported about the delay of the TLB in issuing a revised order with respect to the excess land of KGS Group. The delay had raised concerns that it was for granting exemption to the business group in violation of the Kerala Land Reforms Act.
14/06/16 New Indian Express
