Sub Collector reaffirms encroachment charges against Kochi club

Fort Kochi Sub Collector K. Inbasekar on Friday issued a verdict that the city-based Lotus Club has encroached on 80.25 cents of government land.

Mr. Inbasekar passed the verdict while rejecting an appeal filed by the secretary of the club against an order of the Kanayannur Additional Tahsildar in February 2010 which held the club guilty of encroaching on puramboke land. The stay granted against the order of the Additional Tahsildar also remains vacated.

As per the basic tax register and puramboke register, 80.25 cents of land in Survey No: 740/2 in Ernakulam village has been recorded as government land.

The verdict, which was passed by the Sub Collector following final hearings conducted on November 7 and 14 last year, further directed the Kanayannur Additional Tahsildar “to take immediate steps as per law”. Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Inbasekar said the revenue official had been directed to take necessary measures to get the encroachment evicted immediately.

Copy of verdict

When contacted, club authorities said they were yet to receive a copy of the verdict. “We will take legal recourse after studying the verdict,” said a club official, in the absence of the secretary who is abroad. Revenue authorities are also yet to receive a copy of the verdict.