THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the Supreme Court ruling in favour of the SilverLine survey was a relief to the government, the inability to avoid protests against the stone laying poses a political challenge to the Left Front. Sources close to the Left are alleging that the lapses in official procedures paved the way for the ongoing protests. Legal experts are pointing out that it was a fallacy that things were not going according to the rules of the law related to the survey process. The current protests are a natural reaction when the officials unexpectedly break into houses of individuals in the name of the survey. The Left is concerned whether this will cause a setback for the front.

As per law, if the government acquires land for public use, it should consult with the concerned local body at the village and ward level and conduct a social impact study in collaboration with them. Adequate representation should be ensured from the local body and the gram sabha in the social impact study. It must be completed within six months. However, the orders issued on October 5 and 30 last year were not in accordance with this law.

The Revenue Order dated October 5 was under Section 6 (1) of the Kerala Survey and Boundaries Act, 1961. This order proposes to carry out a survey by cutting down and marking the trees on the land to be acquired. Authorities are claiming that this was a procedural order for a social impact study. The order dated October 30 directing action to acquire 1221 hectares of land in 11 districts was in accordance with Rule 4 (1) of the Kerala Land Acquisition Act. As per this rule, the district collectors are required to issue a notification following the procedure. However, no such notifications have been issued.

The Left parties are alarmed by the rising public outcry against stoning. The CPM is the only party to defend the project. Apart from the CPI, the Kerala Congress (M) is also concerned with the Changanassery Madappally incident.