The Governor's refusal to permit the Kerala Government Land Assignment (Amendment) Bill 2023, passed unanimously by the Assembly, is his latest flashpoint with the regime.
The black banner installed by SFI in Thodupuzha in idukki against Governor Khan. Photo: Supplied
The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by Kerala’s ruling CPI(M) in the Idukki district to protest against Governor Arif Mohammad Khan was total on Tuesday, 9 January.
The Governor, however, attended a public function at Thodupuzha in the district.
The hartal was called because the Governor refused to give his consent to the Kerala Government Land Assignment (Amendment) Bill of 2023,
Though the Bill was passed unanimously by the Kerala Assembly in September last year, citing the land assignment-related hurdles faced by the residents of Idukki, it is still pending with Khan.
The Bill, once it becomes law, would empower the state government to regularise any contravention of the conditions attached to the patta (land document) and that of the rules made after the enactment of the original Act in 1960.
It would also allow the government to permit the assignee of land to use the land for purposes other than for which it was assigned.
When Khan reached Thodupzha, hundreds of CPI(M) workers from Idukki organised a mammoth march to Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, accusing the Governor of causing them innumerable hardships.
Khan reaches Thodupuzha. (Supplied)
CPI(M) state secretary MV Govuindan inaugurated the protest march and warned the Governor of massive protests if the Bill was not approved in the coming days.
Meanwhile, activists from the SFI — the student wing of the CPI(M) — waved black flags at Khan in many places when he travelled by road from Kochi to Thodupuzha.
But the Governor exited the car at one location and mingled with the locals who came out of their homes to greet him.
Addressing the protest in Thiruvananthapuram, Govindan said the Bill was a milestone in the history of land assignment procedures in the state as it was a long-pending demand of the beneficiaries of patta lands.
Various court orders, including a Supreme Court order, had made life miserable for the people after assignees violated the conditions attached to the patta.
Govindan said the Bill reflected the larger public demand from Idukki.
The CPI(M)’s Idukki district leadership had made an official statement on Monday that it did not have any intention to prevent the Governor from launching the Karunya Family Protection Scheme at Merchant Trust Hall at Shappupadi in the Thodupuzha town of Idukki.
However, the SFI refused to back down from the protest. Though SFI and DYFI activists organised a march to the hall ahead of the event, the police quickly dispersed the crowd.
As per the 1960 Act, the land assigned to the beneficiary should be used only for the purpose (mostly agricultural purposes and house construction) for which it was assigned.
However, over more than 60 years, the assignees were forced to use the land for other purposes, including constructing buildings and for commercial activities.
In doing so, they violated the conditions attached to the original patta.
This complicated things, and the government has had to impose certain restrictions on the construction works on such lands, affecting the people adversely.
Against this backdrop, the government was forced to tinker with the Act, allowing the state to amend Rules 4 A(1) and 4A(2).
This would allow the government to regularise any contraventions of the conditions attached to the patta (mostly constructions on such lands) with retrospective effect and permit the beneficiary to use the land for whatever purpose they want.
Even as the amendment’s stated purpose was to help the high-range farmers with small amounts of land, there were allegations that it was aimed at helping lobbies with vested interests.
That was one reason the Governor withheld his assent to it. He received petitions against the amendment and forwarded those to the government, seeking responses.
But the government did not reply to them. Hence, the Governor has yet to give his nod to the Bill.
Meanwhile, Khan said he would not be scared by protests. He also said that attempts to pressurise him would not work, and he wouldn’t remain a rubber-stamp leader.
Referencing the recent Kozhikode example, when he walked through the busy SM Street, he said he was willing to walk on the road if necessary.
Khan visited Idukki to attend a function organised by the local traders’ outfit.
Governor Arif Muhammad Khan. (South First)
In Thodupuzha, Khan attended a function of the merchant body Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti (KVVES).
In a statement, the KVVES criticised the government for not clarifying the Governor’s doubts regarding the Bill.
It also challenged the LDF MLAs from Idukki — MM Mani Roshy Augustine, A Raja, and Vazhoor Soman — to protest when the Governor addressed the Assembly when the Budget session would commence.
“Will they raise ‘Governor go back’ slogans?” the KVVES asked,
Earlier, some pro-Sangh outfits had urged the Governor not to consent to the Bill, alleging that was aimed at regularising the unauthorised construction and land defacement activities in the ecologically sensitive Munnar area.
