Move to allot land to trusts dropped

The Kochi Corporation on Monday informed the Kerala High Court that it was withdrawing its decision to allot land to the three CPI (M) controlled trusts.

The information was conveyed to Justice T.R.Ramachandran Nair when a writ petition filed by Opposition leader in the Kochi Corporation A. B.Sabu against the allotment of land came up for hearing.

The corporation counsel submitted that the Corporation had decided to withdraw the decision in the view of the controversies over the land allotment.

The corporation would place the entire matter in a properly convened meeting of the council for its proper consideration.

The court closed the case after recording these submissions of the corporation's counsel.

The corporation had decided to allot land in Pachalam, Edakochi and Ponnurunni respectively to the CPI (M) -controlled T.K. Ramakrishnan Cultural Trust, E.K. Narayanan Smaraka Trust and Koru Asan Smaraka Trust.

Mr. Sabu said that that the allotment was illegal and against principles of natural justice.

In fact, the land had been allotted as per the Corporation resolution. The resolution was passed when the Opposition staged a walkout in protest against the resolution.

The petitioner had earlier highlighted the irregularities in the allotment process. The allotments of 66 cents in Pachalam and 4.2 cents in Edakochi and 4 cents in Ponnurunni were made without any authority, he had contended.

According to him, the value of the land would come to more than Rs.150 crore. The law did not permit such an allotment of land, the petitioner said.

‘People's victory'

The statement of the Kochi corporation in the Kerala High Court that it was withdrawing from the move to assign land for some trusts was the victory of the people of Kochi, Mr. Sabu said while talking to the media.

The decision to assign the land even without any discussion in the corporation council was the reflection of the political haughtiness of the CPI (M).

The authorities had to withdraw the decision in the face of unprecedented public resistance against the move, he said.