Kerala HC stays action against Tata Tea arm

The Kerala High Court today stayed for 2 weeks the forest department's notice for takeover of the forest land with the Kanan Devan Hills Plantation (KDHPPL) at Munnar.

Justice K M Joseph issued the order on a petition by KDHPPL against the department's notice. They also sought to forbear the forest and revenue authorities from taking any action for dispossession of land, destruction of crops and demolition of buildings belonging to the company and Tata Tea at Munnar.

The petitioner also sought to restrain the authorities from initiating any action with regard to the lands in their possession in terms of the order passed by the Land Board under the provisions of the Kannan Devan Hills Act.

The forest department had stated that the KDHPLL had violated Kerala Forest Conservancy Act and had over 3000 acres of forest land with it.

The Additional Advocate General had informed the court that Tata Tea was in possession of a large extent of forest land and notice for penal action for violation of the Forest Conservation Act had been served on the company.