Land acquisition for NH challenged

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday admitted a petition challenging the move to acquire the land of Kumaran Asan Memorial at Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram, for the development of National Highway.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A M Shafeeque also issued notices to the state government and others, and asked them to file a statement in this regard within four weeks. The petition was filed by Tapasya Art and Literary Forum vice-president P G Haridas. The petitioner submitted that the land was acquired in 2003 for KANIC (Kumaran Asan National Institute of Culture), and it is beautifully landscaped.

However, the government notified the land for developing the NH, and it was to protect the interest of the land mafia.