'Ravindran Pattayam' not fake, cancelled due to procedural error: Government in High Court

KOCHI: The government has told the High Court that the infamous 'Ravindran Pattayam' in Idukki was not fake and was cancelled because it was given without following procedures.

Advocate General K Gopalakrishna Kurup explained before the Division Bench that MI Ravindran, who was an Additional Tehsildar, gave Pattayam to deserving people. The AG also stated that no one was evicted because Pattayam was given to deserving people.

The government also said that there is no need for a CBI investigation into the irregularities in the distribution of Pattayam in Munnar. The court accepted the Director General of Prosecution's request to allow three weeks to appoint a special team to investigate the fake Pattayams. A division bench consisting of Justice A Muhammad Mushtaq and Justice S Manu was considering the petition to evict the land encroachments in Munnar.
Government said that Ravindran pattayam was given to deserving people while explaining the action taken against officials who issued fake pattayams. 530 Ravindran Pattayams were canceled earlier. Pattayam will again be given to these landowners. The court had earlier directed to show cause for not ordering a CBI probe against the officials held guilty in Rajan Madhekar's report. The AG also argued that the demand for a CBI investigation has been dismissed by the court.

The court asked whether there was no need to investigate whether the officials connived at the encroachments. The government explained that an effective investigation is underway. It was also requested to remove the obstacle in providing Pattayam. The court directed to complete the digital survey immediately and dispose of the complaints. The court should also be informed how much time is required for this. The High Court sought information from Deputy Collector K Manoj regarding the conversion of cardamom Kuthakapattom land into resorts. It was also suggested to notify the measures.