Kochi, Monday, February 15, 2010: The Kerala High Court would today take up the petition filed by Harrisons Malayalam Plantations and Janata Dal (S) leader George Pothan against encroachments today.

When the petitions had come up for hearing last week, the Court had issued notice to Adivasi Kshema Samiti, which is backing the encroachments in Wayanad , and CPM Wayanad district secretary CK Sashindran, the Court had condemned the steps taken by government against encroachments.

Also the division bench comprising Justice KM Joseph and ML Joseph Francis would take up the petition filed by JD(S) MLA Sreyamskumar seeking police protection to the sixteen acres of coffee plantation in Krishnangiri. The Court had directed Sreyamskumar to produce the relevant documents proving the ownership of the land

Earlier, the Court had orally observed that it was a shame that the government was not able to maintain law and order on those lands. The court asked the government pleader why the government was waiting for court’s intervention to act against the encroachers.

The government pleader then submitted that necessary instructions had been issued to the Inspector-General of Police, North Zone, to take steps to maintain law and order on those lands. The court directed Advocate-General C.P. Sudhakara Prasad to appear before the court for the government at the next date of hearing.

The Bench issued notice to the State government and other respondents in the petitions. The petitioners sought police protection for holding the land in their possession and removing the encroachers.