Keralam court attaches magistrates' cars over unpaid 1980 land compensation

Two official vehicles assigned to Additional District Magistrates in Kerala were attached on Thursday on a court order after the Public Works Department failed to pay compensation for land acquired for a bridge project in 1980, the Press Trust of India reported.

The action came 46 years after the land was acquired without compensation being paid to its owner, Muraleedharan, a resident of Enath. The amount due to him, including compensation and interest, is Rs 12,60,361.

Muraleedharan approached the Pathanamthitta Sub Court in 1995, seeking compensation for the land acquired for the bridge project at Enath. The court issued an order in his favour in 2008, following which he approached it again in 2009 to seek its implementation, officials told PTI.

Despite repeated notices to the Public Works Department's Kollam Road Division, the department reportedly informed the authorities that it did not have sufficient funds to pay the compensation.

After repeated legal proceedings over the government's failure to settle the payment, the vehicles assigned to the Sabarimala and Pathanamthitta Additional District Magistrates were attached as part of the court's enforcement action.

Officials pasted attachment notices on the vehicles on Thursday before shifting them to the court premises. Both vehicles are Toyota Innova cars, manufactured in 2016 and 2014. They could be auctioned to recover the dues if the amount is not deposited, officials told PTI.

District Collector Nizamudeen A told reporters that an alternative vehicle had been arranged for the Additional District Magistrate. He said steps would be taken to secure the release of the attached vehicles after the amount directed by the court was deposited.

Nizamudeen said the matter had been brought to the government's attention and such attachments were affecting the department's routine work. He said the Revenue Department was not a party to the case, but its vehicles were attached in such instances.

“Whenever such cases arise, Revenue Department vehicles are taken into custody. The government has been informed about the issue, as it is seriously affecting our regular functioning,” he said.

The two vehicles will remain attached under the court's enforcement action, with officials saying they could be auctioned if the compensation and interest owed for the land acquired in 1980 are not paid.- Ends