HC questions Govt on allotment of 'pattas' to CPI, CPM

Kochi, Aug 21 (UNI) Questioning the allotment of land to Communist Party of India(Marxist) and Communist Party of India in Munnar, the Kerala High Court today asked the State Government to clarify whether there is any provision under the Land Conservancy Act to give 'pattas' (deeds) to political parties.

Justice S Sirijagan, hearing a petition filed by P Dhanya and Sreekumari Kavu against the cancellation of the 'patta' granted to Dhanyasree Yatri Nivas in Munnar, questioned Additional Advocate General Venganoor Chandrashekharan Nair about the grant of 'pattas' to the CPI and CP(M).

The Additional AG submitted that the pattas were not granted in the names of the political parties, but to certain individuals, and now the political parties' offices were functioning on that land.

Stating that not all 'Raveendran pattas', granted by Additional Tahsildar P Raveendran in the 1990s, were invalid. The Additional AG submitted that the pattas regarding the CPI and CPI(M) offices were valid.

A vigilance inquiry was, however, underway, into the matter, including the CPI and CPI(M) offices, he added.

In reply to the court's earlier direction to produce all documents regarding Raveendran pattas, the Additional AG said as the vigilance inquiry was in progress, it would take some time to produce the documents.

The court then posted further hearing of the matter after the Onam break.

UNI