Madikeri: Members of the Chowrira family, who are involved in a legal battle over the lands cultivated by them at Bettageri near Ammathi, in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu, with the Periyapatna-based Kannada Math, has clarified on Saturday that they were still in possession of the lease and the math seer had no authority to claim the land. Also, the matter was subjudice, they said.

Speaking on behalf of the Chowrira family members — Kaveramma, Appanna and Ravi Cariappa — who were present, former MLC and advocate A.K. Subbaiah, who is fighting the case, said the seer of the Kannada Math, who had lost the first round of the case in the High Court, was trying to foist false cases against his clients every now and then.

The High Court had annulled the Virajpet tahsildar's order of handing over the property to the Kannada Math.

The math again went for appeal, which was still pending in the court, he said.

Mr. Subbaiah said the lands were leased to the Chowrira family in the 50s and 60s on a 99-year lease. It was cultivated and turned into a coffee plantation. Mr. Subbaiah contended that Chowrira family members had records to show that the math was earlier called "Tannada Math" but no one was sure when it was changed to Kannada Math.

Mr. Subbaiah also countered the claims of the seer that Chowrira family was `trespassing' into the Kannada Math property saying the Virajpet court had granted injunction to the Chowrira family, which they enjoyed still. It was the math members who were trespassing into the Chowrira property, he added.

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