Kerala HC extends deadline to resolve Pariyathukavu eviction issue

Kochi: High court on Thursday extended until June 16 the time granted to the state govt to resolve issues surrounding the proposed eviction drive at Pariyathukavu in Malayidamthuruth of Kizhakkambalam village in Ernakulam.

The order was passed by Justice T R Ravi while considering an interlocutory application (IA) filed by the superintendent of police (SP), Ernakulam rural, seeking additional time to evict seven Dalit families from a disputed parcel of land at Pariyathukavu in compliance with a court order. Earlier, on May 25, HC had granted time till June 9 after the state govt informed court that efforts were underway to resolve the issue amicably.

However, while considering the execution petition on June 1, the Perumbavoor munsiff court directed the police to provide adequate protection to the amin, advocate commissioner and other court officials to facilitate the execution of the decree by June 9 in compliance with the HC order. Following the munsiff court’s directions, the SP approached HC again seeking additional time to settle the dispute through negotiations between the parties.

While considering the IA on Thursday, HC observed that the munsiff court’s order appeared to have been passed on a misconception of an HC direction and clarified that it had never issued any such direction. Subsequently, HC extended the time for resolving the issue till June 16.

The dispute traces its origins to a suit filed before the munsiff court in 1984 over the ownership of 2.62 acres of land in Pariyathukavu. The court decreed the suit in favour of the late Sankaran Nair of Kizhakkambalam. Although the defendants — Dalit families residing on the land — pursued a series of legal challenges, the decree and judgment were upheld by the higher courts, including the Supreme Court.