Citing the LDF’s election slogan that it will set everything right once it came to power, the Kerala High Court criticised the state government for lack of action on the Munnar encroachment issue.
The court came down on the government while dismissing a petition filed by Congress leader VV George, a resort owner in Munnar, who challenged the eviction order issued on his Love Dale resort in Munnar.
The HC said, “Can't the public expect a government that came to power by promising to set everything right to act effectively in the case of public land encroachment at Munnar. What is required is political will,” The Times of India reports.
`LDF will come, everything will be set right' was the election slogan used by LDF in 2016 elections.
There were allegations recently that both Congress and CPI (M) leaders were forcing the government to drop action against George’s resort in Munnar.
Transferring the Devikulam Sub Collector Sriram Venkitaraman, who spearheaded the Munnar evictions, had also invited criticism on the government.
The transfer comes after the Kerala High Court earlier said that it would not intervene in the sub collector's action to evict George’s resort.
Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan, who had supported the officer through the encroachments, called it a promotion and a routine transfer. However, many reports indicate that with powerful CPI (M) leaders like MM Mani openly challenging Sriram, his transfer was a given.
Even on Thursday, the court declined to interfere in eviction procedures.
“There is no dearth of legal precedents of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the jurisdictional high court to trigger the government into action to take back what is due to the people and to put it to public benefit. The legislature too has brought in enactments to proceed for such recovery. What is required is the political will to proceed and the official vigour to implement. If either is dampened, then it is the public interest that is compromised. Is it too much for the citizenry to expect the government, who came to power with the simple pledge; that everything will be set right, to act, positively and effectively?” the court said, ToI quotes.