Kerala Revenue Minister K. Rajan downplayed the recent Pala sub-court ruling on the Cheruvally Estate, emphasizing that it does not pose a setback for the Pinarayi Vijayan-led State government. The government is moving forward with the project, which could potentially become the fifth airport in the state.
Rajan explained that the court highlighted procedural deficiencies and did not make a final determination regarding the land intended for the proposed Sabarimala Greenfield airport. Following a visit to the township under construction in Wayanad, the Minister stated that the government will carefully review the judgment before determining its next steps.
According to Rajan, the court’s decision primarily concerns procedural matters and does not address the land’s ownership. The Pala court ruled against the government’s claim of ownership over 2,263 acres at the Cheruvally Estate, asserting that the land is owned by the Ayyana Charitable Trust.
The future of the Sabarimala airport project faces uncertainty once more as the government can only proceed with land acquisition if it successfully challenges the verdict in a higher court. The Cheruvally Estate, located in Erumeli South and Manimala villages, was identified as a key land parcel for the proposed airport.
The State contended that the land, based on the 1910 Settlement Register, fell under government lease land, alleging an illegal transfer to the Trust by Harrison Malayalam. However, the court accepted the Trust’s claim of legitimate ownership supported by valid documentation. The case involves the Ayyana Charitable Trust of the Believers Church and Harrison Malayalam as respondents.
The ruling holds significance given previous setbacks faced by the government, such as the Kerala High Court’s annulment of land acquisition notifications for the airport due to excessive land extent and insufficient justification under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act.
