HC directs collector to remove encroachments

Kochi: The high court has directed the district collector of Idukki to remove encroachments from the allocated revenue land of Hindustan News Prints Ltd (HNL) in Chinnakanal village, where ownership was fraudulently claimed through bogus pattas.

The bench of Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen issued the directive while dismissing petitions filed by Albin of Chinnakanal and Baburaj of Thiruvananthapuram.

Initially, 51.51 hectares of revenue land, which was under the custody of the forest department, had been allocated to HNL for eucalyptus cultivation to serve as raw material for newsprint production. The allegations involved two individuals — Albin, who claimed to have purchased 2.80 acres of the allocated land from a woman named Anthoniammal, and Siby Thomas, who claimed ownership of 3.25 acres from patta holder Marcos Isaac. The district collector had initially ordered possession of the land to be handed over to Albin and Siby Thomas. However, Siby Thomas's land was later transferred to Baburaj through a change of hands.

On appeal, the land revenue commissioner overturned the district collector's order, concluding that the pattas were bogus. Albin and Baburaj then approached the high court seeking relief.

After reviewing the case, the bench found that the records had been manipulated and forged with the assistance of public officials. The court further noted that a criminal case had already been registered against Albin for fabricating documents with the collusion of public servants. The bench concluded that the encroachers had unlawfully claimed ownership of the land and ordered the removal of all encroachments.