Title deed distribution in Idukki hits another snag as Kerala High Court stays proceedings

The title deed distribution, under the Kerala Land Assignment Rules of 1964, in Idukki has hit a hurdle withthe Kerala High Court once again staying the proceedings.

The High Court had on February 23 vacated a previous stay, allowing the State government to issue title deeds under strict conditions. Both the government and local farmers had welcomed the move.

However, during a hearing on Wednesday, the petitioners’ advocate informed the court that the State government was distributing deeds without complying with the court’s specific directives. Consequently, the court issued a temporary stay and directed the Chief Secretary to submit a detailed affidavit regarding the matter. The court is scheduled to consider the case on March 10.

Rasak Chooravelil, chairperson of the Idukki Land Freedom Movement (ILFM), who has impleaded in the case, alleged that government failures led to the court’s immediate stay.

“After the court vacated the initial stay, the farming community in the district had felt that their long-term demands would finally be met. Now that the court has stayed the proceedings, those hopes are ruined,” said Mr. Chooravelil.

“When the stay was vacated, the Revenue Principal Secretary should have issued a letter to the District Collector outlining the directives for distribution under the 1964 rules. The government’s failure in issuing this letterresulted in this setback,” said Mr. Chooravelil.

He further alleged that the rush was politically motivated. “After the stay was vacated, the government distributed 2,000 deeds and planned another ‘title deed fest’ before the election notification. The government failed to follow proper proceedings, opting instead for an election gimmick to attract voters, he said.

The High Court had originally stayed the title deed distribution in the district on January 10, 2024 following a case filed by an NGO, One Earth One Life. Recently, the State government had filed an “immediate attention” plea urging reconsideration. Based on the plea, the court had allowed the government to issue deeds to farmers in possession of land prior to August 1, 1971, subject to strict document verification.