The Kerala High Court has imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on a former Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) of Palakkad for allegedly making a land owner re-approach the court a second time for reclassification of his land that had been recorded in Revenue records as nilam (paddy land).
In his petition, the landowner, C. Vinumon of Kannadi, Palakkad, challenged the RDO’s order dismissing his application to change the nature of his property in the records, without passing a speaking order. This was allegedly done despite the High Court directing him to reconsider the matter. He contended that the property had already been converted in 2008 and mentioned in the records as fallow land, before the enactment of the relevant law.
The former RDO contended that he had signed the order that was prepared by a junior superintendent in his office since he was busy with post-election duties.
Stating that authorised officers are not laymen, and that they are senior officers of the State service, the court said that the present case was an apt example of an authorised officer issuing a stereotype order even after the court set aside the same and directed its reconsideration. The same order was repeated without any change, including the modulation of the sentences, it added.
Published – November 13, 2025 01:45 am IST
