Govt. to move HC on behalf of Dalit families facing eviction

The State government on Friday said it would pursue all legal measures to prevent the eviction of seven Dalit families of Paryathukavu settlement near Malayaidamthuruth, Kizhakkambalam. Promising to take over the legal battle that the residents of the settlement have been pursuing for decades, Minister for Higher Education Roji M. John said the government would approach the High Court on Monday. “The government will attempt to convey to the High Court its stand on the matter. The Advocate General has been given due directions for this,” the Minister said after a discussion with the affected families and the officials concerned at the District Collector’s chamber on Friday night. The Minister announced that if the court verdict turned unfavourable, the government would rehabilitate the families by providing them with houses and land. He also informed the meeting that there would be no police action until the government approached the court on Monday. The promise comes even as the Advocate Commission was scheduled to initiate the eviction on Saturday after 15 unsuccessful attempts to execute the order. The Minister said the government was looking into the matter with utmost seriousness, and that the issue was discussed with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. “The government would move forward only after taking the affected families into full confidence. Arrangements would also be made for their present lawyer to hold urgent discussions with the Advocate General. The government would not, under any circumstances, allow the families to be thrown out onto the streets,” he said. Seven families residing at Paryathukavu attended the meeting. The meeting was attended by Kunnathunad MLA V.P. Sajeendran, District Collector G. Priyanka, Additional District Magistrate Shaiju P. Jacob, Ernakulam Rural District Police Chief K.S. Sudarshan, Vazhakulam grama panchayat president K. Sharada, and other officials. The Minister was deputed by the government after attempts to evict the families spiralled into a major political controversy. The alleged police action against the residents during an eviction attempt on Wednesday had landed the newly sworn-in United Democratic Front government in huge embarrassment. It was the 15th attempt to execute the eviction order, with the residents, backed by former MLA P.V. Sreenijin, resisting the previous steps. The eviction was initiated on the basis of a court order in favour of a private claimant who had accused the affected families of encroaching upon his land. The residents have sought a fresh survey of the land, claiming that government-owned puramboke land have been included in the disputed property. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) has intensified agitation over the issue. Party leader and former Minister R. Bindu addressed a protest meeting at Malayaidamthuruth, organised by the All India Democratic Women’s Association.