Kerala High Court Grants State Government Additional Time in Land Encroachment PIL
The Kerala High Court has provided the state government with a two-week extension to submit its counter-affidavit in response to a significant public interest litigation (PIL). This legal action alleges that the AKG Centre for Research and Studies in Thiruvananthapuram was constructed illegally by encroaching upon land that rightfully belongs to Kerala University.
Court Proceedings and Adjournment Details
A bench presided over by Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar has formally adjourned the PIL hearing to March 5. This decision follows the court's allowance of additional time for the state government to prepare and file its detailed response to the allegations presented in the petition.
Petitioner's Allegations and Background
The PIL was initiated by R S Sasikumar, a retired joint registrar of Kerala University and a resident of Thiruvananthapuram. Sasikumar's petition seeks a judicial directive compelling the state government to evict the AKG Centre from the disputed land and to recover the property allegedly under its illegal occupation.
Key contentions raised in the petition include:
- Although it has been claimed that 15 cents of university land were assigned in August 1977 to the CPM state secretary for establishing the AKG Memorial Research Centre, the petitioner asserts that the relevant government order is untraceable in official records.
- The research centre is not recognized as an official research institution of Kerala University.
- Even if the land assignment were valid, Sasikumar argues that the property has been grossly misused, functioning primarily as an office and political hub for a political party. This alleged misuse violates both the original purpose of the land assignment and applicable statutory provisions.
The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding land use, institutional integrity, and adherence to legal protocols in Kerala. The court's decision to grant an extension underscores the complexity and significance of the matter, which will be further examined in the upcoming hearing on March 5.
