Kerala HC orders immediate eviction of encroachers

Kochi, Jun 27 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today ordered the state administration to forthwith evict encroachers from the excess land at Ambayathodu in Kozhikode district.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice P R Raman was not inclined to grant six months time to the state government to examine the claims of persons in posession of the land.

The court was of the view that it was the bounden duty of the government to evict the occupants who were rank trespassers. It directed the government to submit a compliance report by July 31.

On March five, 1997, the High Court had directed the government to evict all the encroachers from 126 acre land in Rasoth village, vested in the government under the provision of the Land Reform Act, from the Malabar Produce and Rubber Company.

At present about 4000 families were occupying the land. The occupants also approached the court seeking directions to assign the land in their favour but the plea was turned down by the court.

UNI XR AA RL HT1940