CPI(M) flays TN over "silence" on land grabbing ruling

Hitting out at Tamil Nadu government over its "silence" on a verdict of the Madras High Court over land grabbing issue, CPI(M) today said the ruling could affect those who had lost their lands and urged the state to bring a legislation to protect the rights of affected persons.
The AIADMK regime after assuming power in 2011 took steps to retrieve lands and restore it to their rightful owners that were usurped by unscrupulous elements through fraudulent means including forged patta and documents.
Separate wing was created in police, special courts were set up and about 18,000 complaints were filed by affected persons.

Against this background, cases were filed in the court against some Government Orders connected to land grabbing and a verdict has been delivered by the High Court on February 10.
The court quashed two Government orders of July 28, 2011 and August 11, 2011 in ordering formation of 36 anti Land Grabbing Special Cells to deal with them and constituting special courts in some districts to conduct trial of such cases under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The court did so after hearing petitions challenging their validity, but gave the government liberty to bring in any appropriate legislation on the lines of AP Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 or a better one.

"The High Court ruling on this issue could affect those who had lost their lands. While the affected people are worried about their complaints, cases in courts, the government has so far not commented about this ruling," a resolution adopted by the CPI(M) at its State Council meeting here said adding "it is not proper to keep silence."
"Hasty issuance of Government orders" was behind such a state of affairs, it alleged.
"The CPI(M) urges the government to bring a separate legislation to deal with land grabbing and take legal steps to ensure that pending cases and complaints are not affected," the resolution added.