HC disposes of Shreyams plea

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the Mananthavadi Land Tribunal to take a decision in a case in connection with the claim of Shreyams Kumar MLA regarding the possession of land at Krishnagiri in Wayanad district within three months.A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice C N Ramachandran Nair and Justice P S Gopinathan passed the order while disposing of an appeal filed by Shreyams Kumar, challenging the Single Judge’s directive to the state government to take over 14.44 acres of forest land at Krishnagiri which is in possession of Shreyams Kumar. Once the decision is taken, the Land Tribunal should submit the report to the Sultan Bathery Sub Court.  “On receipt of  the report the sub court then should dispose of the case in three months,” the court said.  However, the state government cannot take over the land till the case is disposed of by the sub  court.  “An injunction order issued by the sub court restraining the state government from taking over the land will be in force till the disposal of the case. The state is free to initiate any proceedings in accordance with law as soon as the case is disposed of,” the court held.