Eviction of Malayidamthuruth Dalit families: Kerala HC grants govt two more weeks to resolve impasse

The Kerala High Court on Thursday granted two more weeks to the State government to resolve the impasse over the eviction of seven families from a Dalit settlement at Malayidamthuruth near Kizhakkambalam.

It further restrained the Munsiff Court, Perumbavur, from passing orders till June 16 on their eviction from the 2.5 acres of land, the ownership of which has been claimed by a private individual. The munsiff court had on June 1 directed their eviction. This followed the two weeks’ time the High Court had on May 25 granted the State government to evict the families in the wake of efforts under way to peacefully resolve the matter.

The Munsiff had earlier permitted the court Amin (bailiff) and the Advocate Commissioner to complete the eviction and file a report by June 9.

The advocate commission appointed to execute the eviction order of the munsiff court had to return without executing the order on 15 occasions.

The United Democratic Front government had intervened in the matter a week ago by promising to join the legal dispute and rehabilitate the residents in case of a setback from the court. The government also assured the residents that there would not be any police action in the name of eviction. The assurance came even as the CPI(M) intensified its agitation against the eviction move.

The eviction process started after multiple court orders ruled in favour of the private individual’s claim.

The affected families, meanwhile, claim that they have been living on ‘government land’ for generations.