Revenue recovery against PFI; HC expresses displeasure against government for not following its verdict

KOCHI: The High Court has expressed its displeasure against the government for not following its verdict to begin revenue recovery from Popular Front of India (PFI) of Rs.5.20 crores as compensation for the loss during the violent hartal called by PFI.

The division bench ordered that the Home Department Additional Chief Secretary must appear in person on December 23 with the affidavit on when the revenue recovery will be completed. The division bench also said that the time for completing the revenue recovery procedures will not be extended beyond January 31.

The PFI had called a sudden hartal on September 23 followed by widespread violence across the state. The call for hartal was in violation of the HC order not to conduct hartal without giving prior notice.

On November 8, the government said that it has instructed the revenue department to recover the amount by confiscating the asset of PFI State General Secretary, Abdul Sathar. The government also gave assurance that it would implement it within a month.

It was also instructed to appoint a Claim Commission to make sure that compensation is received. The government also instructed the Collectors to help in finding the assets of the PFI. In the affidavit given by Additional Chief Secretary, it says that the procedures cannot be completed within one month. The affidavit also said that the Ernakulam District Collector said that there is no space at the Collectorate to give a office space and employees for the Claim Commission. This made the Court angry.