Won Rs 45 lakh compensation by appearing as party-in-person in court; Maymol's lone battle comes to fruition

KOCHI: Maymol Pynadath Davis, a native of Thrikkariyoor, Kothamangalam, is quite a hero who successfully manifested the David-Goliath battle in real life. Maymol won a compensation of Rs. 45 lakhs for her agricultural land after arguing her case in the High Court against the Forest Department as a party in person without the assistance of any lawyer.

The compensation was for the agricultural land that was given to her under the Rebuild Kerala Development Program (RKDP). The 35-year-old woman saw success after one and a half years of legal battle.

Earlier, the Forest Department had transferred 22.5 lakhs into her account. After completing all the formalities, the remaining amount was transferred to Maymol's account on Sunday. The fight was to secure compensation for the house and land where Maymol and her cancer-stricken mother, Molly, lived, which was handed over to the Forest Department due to wild animal encroachment.

Molly is one of the 155 farmers in the Mekkapala and Thrikkariyoor areas who were given land under the RKDP scheme announced by the government in 2018. As the number of applicants increased, the forest department deliberately slowed down the process. It was then that Maymol decided to move legally to ensure that she received the Rs 45 allowed to her family.

Maymol holds a double master's degree, but was a total stranger to law and its dealings. Without seeking help from a lawyer, Maymol decided to appear as a party in person in court. Common sense and logical thinking were her only weapons, and they came in handy in obliterating the inane counterarguments made by the forest department in court.

Maymol appeared 48 times in single bench and division bench in writ petitions, appeals and contempt petitions. Nine judges, including the Chief Justice, heard the arguments at various stages. The High Court will consider a new petition filed by Maymol against the Forest Department on the 30th, seeking Rs 3 lakh for the inconvenience caused by being dragged into unnecessary litigation for a year and a half and the interest payment for the delay in paying the compensation.