KOCHI: Revenue officials have apologized unconditionally to the High Court for the delay in implementing the order to recover the excess land owned by MLA PV Anvar and his family. The affidavit filed by Kannur Zonal Taluk Land Board Chairman TR Rajish and Kozhikode Special Deputy Tehsildar M Jubeesh said that the process can be completed within three months.

Following this, Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan adjourned the contempt petition filed by Malappuram District RTI Co-ordinator KV Shaji to October 18.

The case

On March 24, 2021, the High Court had ordered that the surplus land owned by Anvar and his family be acquired within six months. The government announced on January 6, 2022 that the land will be acquired within five months in the contempt petition filed by KV Shaji stating that this was not implemented. With this, further proceedings in the petition were terminated. Shaji again approached the High Court as there was no action even after one and a half years.

Shaji stated that since the MLA is an influential politician, the officials are playing hide and seek without taking any action and the information given by Anvar when he contested the election says that he owns 226.92 acres of land. While hearing the petition on June 11, the High Court held that the officials were trying to prevent the implementation of the order and immediate intervention is required to implement the order. It was also directed to file an affidavit within ten days as to why the order was not implemented.

From the affidavit

A hearing is being held on July 31 to hear the petitioner

Anwar and his family own 22.81 acres of land in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. Petitioner says that Anvar owns land in Aluva East Village. The government had reorganized the Taluk Land Boards last October. The officer in charge of this duty was also on leave which caused the delay in the process. The new chairman took charge on July 10. The process can be completed within three months. The delay was not intentional. Apologies unconditionally.