CPI(M) seeks criminal proceedings against Palayamkottai Tahsildar, Head Surveyor

The CPI(M) on Monday staged a demonstration at Vannarpet in the district, seeking criminal proceedings against revenue and survey officials for allegedly giving ‘patta’ to a realty firm for land even as the District Revenue Officer’s inquiry on the land dispute was under way.

The party members said a Chennai-based private realty firm that purchased 13 acres of land at Arockiyanathapuram on Palayamkottai – Tiruchendur Highway in 2007 managed to “improperly acquire” another 12 acres in the contiguous land parcel within the next couple of years by getting assent from only one or two legal heirs of the properties instead of all legal heirs.

In the meanwhile, the realty firm illegally obtained ‘patta’ for another adjoining 24 acres of land through “unlawful registration”. In other words, the private firm had “illegally occupied” 24 acres of land in addition to its 25 acres, including the common path leading to the cremation ground, and it was trying to construct a compound wall around the property.

When the CPI (M), along with the affected farmers, submitted a petition to the Revenue Divisional Officer a couple of years ago seeking cancellation of the ‘patta’ issued to the 24 acres, the Revenue Department refused to initiate any inquiry. Hence, the affected farmers approached the court, which directed the Revenue Department to initiate proper inquiry and take appropriate decision based on the outcome of the inquiry.

CPI (M) district secretary K. Sriram said one of the ‘sellers’, who had raised a loan after pledging the document of the land measuring about 1.40 acre, repaid the loan and got back the document from the bank. “However, he could not enter into his land as the realty firm had encroached upon his land after forging his land document,” said Mr. Sriram.

The protestors said the fake ‘patta’ issued for this expensive property should be cancelled and appropriate legal action taken against the officials who facilitated the “illegal registration” of the property and issue of pattas.

“Receiving the petition from the CPI(M) representatives in October last, District Collector Sukumar promised to constitute an inquiry led by the District Revenue Officer to hold the hearing expeditiously and take due action based on the inquiry findings. The Collector also said neither the farmers nor the realty firm would be allowed to take up any further development of the property until the inquiry was completed. Even as this inquiry by the DRO is on, the revenue officials have issued ‘patta’ to the realty firm based on the survey done by the head surveryor. Hence, the Collector should initiate criminal proceedings against the erring officials,” said Mr. Sriram.

As permission was denied for an indefinite wait-in protest, a demonstration was organised to highlight the demand.