Kumaranasan memorial: Kerala HC quashes state govt order on

The Kerala High Court today quashed a state government order to acquire land belonging to the grandchildren of 19th century poet Kumaranasan for building a memorial in his name at Thonnakkal in Thiruvananthapuram district.
Allowing the petition filed by the grandchildren of the poet, one of the makers of modern India who fought against inequities of a caste-ridden society, Justice A V Ramakrishna Pillai said that the acquisition cannot be classified as for public purpose.
The court also said the Land Revenue Commissioner should have considered the aspect before proceeding with the acquisition and set aside his order.
In an order issued on December 24, 2011, Land Revenue Commissioner had decided to proceed with the acquisition overruling objections of the petitioner.

According to petitioners, politicians have taken over the Kumaranasan Institute of Culture at Thonnackal in Thiruvananthapuram and ousted the members of the family from the committee.