In the third such incident of embarrassment in probably as many days, the Kerala government has had to cancel a land order 'issued with suspect motive' during the last days of its tenure.

On Wednesday, it had revoked a controversial order for granting relaxation from the Kerala Land Reforms Act to two plots of land in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts for setting up hi-tech/IT parks.

Public outcry

Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said that the decision was taken after Krishi Property Development Pvt Ltd, the beneficiary, was found to have suppressed actual facts while applying for the relaxation.

Also, a case was pending before the Kerala High Court with respect to the plots of land in question.

The government order had triggered a massive public outcry not just from the Opposition but also from within the ranks of the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front coalition.

Leader of Opposition VS Achuthanandan had come out strongly against the 'indiscretion' on the part of the government while issuing the land order and had demanded its immediate revocation.

Eats humble pie

The Oommen Chandy-led government had also run into stiff resistance from within the government and the ruling party dispensation with Pradesh Congress president VM Sudheeran and legislators TN Prathapan and VD Satheesan questioning the wisdom behind the ill-timed decision.

Earlier, the government had to eat the humble pie in cases pertaining to permission for reclamation of ecologically fragile backwater paddy land at Kumarakom in Kottayam and Kadamakudi in Ernakulam.

It was only yesterday that it was forced to cancel another order that sought to remove the secret wing of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau from the purview of the RTI Act.

Related Topics