Government produces ordinance on excess land

Kochi, July 31 (UNI) The Kerala government today produced before the High Court an ordinance which was promulgated to protect persons in possession of excess land at Ambayathodu in Kozhikode district in the state.

The ordinance became necessary as the High Court gave an ultimatum to comply with its order for the eviction of those who had encroached the land or to legalise their possession by legislation.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice M Ramachandran adjourned the contempt of court case for hearing to August 29 as requested by the petitioner.

In March 1997, the High Court had directed the government to repossess 126 acres of excess land vested with the government under the provisions of the Kerala Land Reforms Act.

The ordinance enables the government to stop eviction for one year and in the meantime consider the applications of occupants to assign land to them.

UNI XR MA DK1833