Despite all pressures from various quarters for
giving compensation to the land acquired for setting up the Sree Chitra
Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences (SCTIMST ) at Wayanad, the government has ordered
to resume 75 acres of land in Mananthwadi without shelling out a single paise. Earlier there was a move
to pay compensation of about 20 to 25 crores for the land that was to be
acquired, which the Express had exposed a few months back.
In the order, which is in possession of Express,
it says that the lessee M/s Glen Leven Estate in Mananthwadi is not entitled
for the value of the land as the jenmom right is vested with the government.
However, it says that the lessee is entitled only for the value of
improvements/structures it had done in the said land.
''The Wayanad district collector is accordingly
directed to acquire 75 acres of land from M/s Glen leven estate for the
establishment of the campus of Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical
Sciences in Wayanad,'' the order dated August 19 said.
There was much pressure on the government to
giving compensation for the land. Even the Advocate General had in his legal
opinion favoured compensation to the estate owners. The Express had exposed the
move with the Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan taking up the issue.
The property that has to be resumed was originally
leased out for 99 years in 1941 to V V Joseph and others. After that the
dependents of Joseph sold the lease hold right to M/s Glen leven estate.
The decision is said to be a revolutionary one,
making it clear that all lease lands are vested with the government. Moreover,
the government can now resume all excess land that is now in the illegal
possession.
Source: The Newindian Express
