Kerala - Kochi   

Court pulls up government

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday orally criticised the government and its officers for failing to comply with a directive to take action against illegal quarrying in the Malayatoor-Neleeswaram grama panchayat areas, near Aluva.

Justice S. Siri Jagan took the government to task when a writ petition filed by the Grama Smarakshana Samithi and another person seeking action against illegal quarrying in the area came up for hearing. It was found that quarrying was being done on land given by the government for agricultural purposes. The court had earlier directed the government and Revenue officials to cancel the ‘pattas' of such land where the quarrying operations were being undertaken. It also directed the government to recover the value of granites quarried from the land from the owners. The government in an affidavit submitted that verification was conducted in the areas and officials had found that illegal quarries were functioning in 15 cases. The ‘pattas' of these 15 persons had been cancelled.

The court had also directed the government to find out whether there was irregularity on the part of the Mining and Geology officials while granting licence for quarrying in the area.

The court orally observed that laws seemed to be applicable only to the common man. The court could issue directives to call in the army if the government was unable to maintain law and order, the judge orally observed. In his petition, the Samrakhana Samithi said the functioning of the illegal quarries posed a threat to the environment. The quarries were functioning in the areas for the last 10 years. Electronic detonators were used for quarrying, leading to damage to houses.

PTI reports from Kochi: Quick to react, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters that the court should have gone through facts before making such observations against the government.

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