Kerala High Court constitutes 5-member STF to address land issues in Munnar

The Kerala High Court on Thursday constituted a five-member Special Task Force (STF) to address the long-standing issues of land encroachments, forged title deeds and other related irregularities in Munnar and other parts of Idukki district [One Earth One Life v State of Kerala]

A bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Basant Balaji directed the STF to prepare a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with the land-related matters by December 10,

The Court said the STF will be headed by VR Vinod, IAS – Additional Secretary of Public Works Department.

"We propose the STF initially to have only five members. The STF will be headed by Sri VR Vinod IAS, Additional Secretary, Public Works Department," the Court said in its order.

S Shamsudeen (IPS), Sanoop S (Kerala Administrative Service) and AK Manoj (Survey Superintendent, ALC Office, Devikulam) are likely to be other members of the SIT. The fifth proposed member is the Principal Conservator of Forests (Forest Management), Thiruvananthapuram.

The Court directed the State to provide the STF with the necessary infrastructure, personnel as well as transportation.

"As matters now stand, we want the STF to immediately go through the recommendations of the various committees and all other relevant documents and prepare a proper protocol slash SOP with respect to every aspect of lands and extents in Idukki district, with specific emphasis on the registers and the documentation in each of the offices, in each of the revenue offices, revenue and village offices," the Court stated.

The STF has also been directed to keep the amicus curiae informed of its activities.

The Court clarified that the earlier constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) and Digital Survey Team would continue to function independently without any interference.

The Court passed the order in a batch of petitions concerning alleged encroachments, forged pattayams (title deeds), and irregularities in the administration of land in Munnar, Vagamon and surrounding areas.

In an earlier order dated October 22, the Court had expressed concern that recommendations made by various government committees over more than two decades had not been effectively implemented.

Today, the Court reiterated that the earlier committees failed to produce effective results and suggested that a task force should take over the responsibilities of the existing monitoring committee.

"As regards the monitoring committee constituted by this Court, its functioning has been impaired because the officers included in it, were not given exclusive responsibilities or powers. We therefore propose, subject to the submissions of the learned counsel for the parties in due course, that the STF that we have now constituted will step into their shoes," the Court added.

The matter will be heard next week.

Senior Counsel PV Dinesh and advocates Praveen S and Daisy A Philipose appear for the petitioners.

Additional Advocate General KV Vincent and advocate Raphael Thekkan appeared for the State.

Advocate Harish Vasudevan has been appointed as the amicus curiae.

[Detailed order awaited]

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