The Hindu : Kerala News : Two Bills referred to subject panel

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Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007
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Kerala

Two Bills referred to subject panel

Special Correspondent

Kerala Revenue Recovery Bill seeks to simplify recovery procedures
Edavagai Rights Acquisition Bill will enhance annuity to members of erstwhile royal houses

Thiruvananthapuram: The Assembly on Tuesday referred the Kerala Revenue Recovery (Amendment) Bill seeking to simplify recovery procedures and the Edavagai Rights Acquisition (Amendment) Bill seeking to enhance payment of annuity members of erstwhile royal houses to their respective subject committee.

Piloting the bill, Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran said the first Bill sought to rectify the anomaly between two sections in the original act through an amendment under which the aggrieved party in a revenue recovery case can move a civil court only after availing of the remedies provided under the statute. The amendment seeks to enable the requisitioning authorities in a revenue recovery case to send the requisition to the Collector where the defaulter or his surety resides or holds property.

At present, revenue recovery requisition is sent to the district in which the demand arises. Many of the public undertakings have their head offices in Thiruvananthapuram and the requisitions are sent to the Thiruvananthapuram Collector.

The Bill also amends Section 72 and 81 of the original act. According to Section 72 of Kerala Revenue Recovery Act, 1968, every question relating to revenue recovery shall be determined not by suit but by the order of the Commissioner of Land Revenue where the Collector is a party and by the Collector in other cases provided a suit may be brought in a civil court on ground of fraud.

The Edavagai Rights Acquisition (Amendment) Bill seeks to increase the rate of interest payable by the Government to the Devaswoms under the management of the Edavagais of Kilimanoor, Poonjar and Vanjipuzha. The rate hike has been made in view of the increase in cost of maintenance and upkeep of the Devaswoms.

Under the original act, the Government held in trust Rs.2,43,866.56 on behalf of the Devaswoms with the obligation to pay interest of four per cent a year.

The Bill also seeks to enhance the annuity payable to the Chief of Poonjar Koickal from Rs.1,500 to Rs.15,000, the Chief of Kilimanoor Kottaram from Rs.900 to Rs.9,000 and the eldest female member of the Poonjar Koickal from Rs.900 to Rs.9,000.

All the other members of both the Kilimanoor Kottaram and Poonjar Koickal would get an annuity of Rs.3,600 each.

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