State Government opposes PIL against PJ Kurien

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Kochi: The state government on Thursday submitted before the Kerala High Court that the public interest litigation filed by the CPI’s women wing seeking further investigation against  Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P J Kurien in the Suryanelli rape case is politically motivated.
 
The state said the plea is not maintainable and submitted that the prime accused Dharmarajan had retracted his statement against the Congress leader before the Thodupuzha sessions court.  Strongly opposing the plea seeking action against Kurien in the case, the state also submitted that the plea was filed to gain political momentum.
 
The state made the submission on a plea filed by the Kerala Mahila Sangam state committee. The government filed the affidavit on a direction by a division bench in reply to the PIL seeking to conduct further investigation into the alleged involvement of Kurien on the basis of the recent  revelations made by the victim.
 
HC seeks file on encroachments
 
The Kerala High Court on Thursday asked the state to file an action taken report on the encroachments in the Munnar area based on the action plan submitted by the special committee. The court observed that for the last three years, the state has not informed the court any developments in the Munnar cases.
 
A division bench comprising chief justice Manjula Chellur and justice K Vinod Chandran issued the directive and posted the case for a month later.
 
The action plan was submitted in February 19, 2010 but till date the state has not filed any affidavit before the court regarding the steps taken. The court is considering a public interest litigation challenging the encroachments in Munnar area.
 
The action plan has asked the state to identify the officials who granted bogus pattas.The action plan has recommended a complete resurvey of all villages within one year but it is yet to be completed.
 
It  also recommended constitution of a special team to identify the boundaries of Kannan Devan hills and other areas, including Pallivasal and Chinnakkanal.It  also suggested a speedy disposal of the cases registered in connection with the Munnar encroachments.
 
No CESS from theatres
 
The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed the circular issued by the state directing the local bodies to collect cess from theatre owners for issuing film tickets.
 
Justice K Surendra Mohan issued the directive after the Theatre Exhibitors’ Forum moved the court against the move.
 
The petitioners alleged that the move was to collect cess for tickets on a daily by the local authorities. The circular  stipulates that the theatre owners should get the tickets sealed from the local authorities every day for each show.