ENCROACHMENT OF TEMPLE LAND BY MALAYALA MANORAMA FAMILY

A fortnight or so ago it was reported in the press that Oommen Chandy Government is delaying  submission of report on the encroachment of  land owned by Panthalur temple of Malappuram District by a family belonging to Malayala Manorama.   

Let us  trace the genesis of the issue and developments that had taken place on the issue in a chronological order hereunder.

·   One Cherian, son of Mamman of Kadapramuriyil Thayyil, Kottayam belonging to Malayala Manorama family takes 131 hectares of land of Panthalur temple on lease for 60 years in 1943.

·    The lessor stops paying lease charges on completion of 30 years i.e., from 1974 onwards violating the lease agreement leading to  Mr.K.P.Manikantan, President, PanthalurTemple Protection Samithi filing  a public interest petition in the court for return of the land during 2002.

·      VS Achuthanandan, Opposition leader visits the temple on 30^th October, 2002 which attracts  media attention.

·       Mr.Manikandan given Power of Attorney by Samoothiri Raja on expiry of lease  during 2003 for handling the case in the court.

·        Temple authorities takes up matter with the then Collector Smt.Sumanna Menon  to take over the land under Kerala Land Conservancy Act(KLCA), Collector rejects the plea saying that KLCA is applicable only to temples owned by Travancore and Kochi Devaswoms.

·     Temple authorities draws the attention of VS Achuthanandan, Chief Minister to the issue, resulting in Government bringing Malabar Devasom under the purview of KLCA through an amendment. Issuance of  notices to 8 persons including Estate Manager to return the temple land  follows.  Revenue Department also follows suit.

·        Manorama family files a suit in the court challenging Collector’s action. High Court asks them to file an appeal with the Government and directs the Government to submit the report to the Court within 60 days.

·     Revenue Minister of Kerala holds a meeting on 1.2.2012 wherein Revenue Secretary Niveditha P.Haran assures the temple authorities that report would be submitted to the High Court within a couple of days. 

·     Temple authorities learn that report has not been submitted  to the High Court by the promised date.  Mr.Manikantan telephones the Minister who confirms his having signed the file.

·     Mr.Manikandan contacts the office of the Minister to know the exact position and comes to know that  Government has asked for more time to submit the report to the High Court.

Evidently, UDF Government is dilly-dallying  the submission of the report due to the pressure exerted on them by Malayala Manorama. The attempts by Manorama family in not returning the land occupied illegally is reprehensible.  No sane person can expect that UDF Government will wake up to the situation and restore the land to Panthalur Temple. 

Sensing the UDF Government’s stand on  the issue,   Mr.Manikandan, who is the Power Attorney Holder of Samoothiri Raja has started an indefinite fast today the 7^th March,2012 which was inaugurated by opposition leader V.S.Achuthanandan.

Malayala Manorama grandma, you are giving sermons regarding ethics every now and then to others; are you not ashamed of resorting to unethical means to retain the encroached temple land?

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