HC order on enroachments: govt to take steps to safeguard

Kerala government today said it would study the High Court order, declaring as 'illegal' demolition of several structures in 2007 and directing it to give back possession of resumed land to owners, saying necessary steps would be taken to safeguard the state's interests.
"Government will study the judgement and take necessary steps to safeguard the interests of the state. Publicity is not the requirement', Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters here.
The Court had yesterday declared as 'illegal', demolition of several structures and resumption of "encroached government" lands, part of the demolition drive launched by former chief minister V S Achuthanandan against encroachers in Munnar in Idukki district in 2007 when LDF was in power.

Allowing a batch of petitions by affected parties, it had directed government to give back possession of resumed land to the respective owners.
The court had said that when land in possession of a person is resumed by government, it can be done only by observing due process of law and that the Idukki District Collector had no power to exercise any power under the 'Cardamom Rules' to take action. Jurisdiction exercised by the Collector was 'without authority of law'.
The court had also directed return of the land belonging to various resorts and hotels.
It had also directed the government to pay Rs 10 lakh as provisional compensation to one of the petitioners, whose 11 buildings were demolished in the action.