KOCHI
: In a special weekend sitting, the Kerala High
Court
ordered
Lakshadweep Administration
to maintain status quo on its weekend move to demolish 51 temporary sheds belonging to residents, citing security
threat
.
Justice Devan Ramachandran ordered for maintaining status quo after considering a petition moved by K Abdul Rahim and 50 others through advocate P Deepak. Demolition notices were issued by the Lakshadweep Administration on Friday for the sheds at Bangaram and other atolls citing
security
threat.
It was on March 11 that the administration issued notices to the islanders to remove the sheds. On March 16, notices were issued announcing that they will be evicted. On March 25, demolition notices were issued by the administration.
Though the special hearing was originally scheduled to start at 5.30pm on Saturday, it began at 7.45pm. When the counsel made submission regarding the rules governing diversion of agricultural land, the judge asked him to point out where it is stated in the petition. The counsel submitted that the petition running into over 750 pages was drafted in a hurry so as to file by Friday night and that he is ready to withdraw the plea and file again. All the 51 petitioners were sent the same notices and only survey numbers have been changed in the notices, the court was told.
The court said the notice refers to some threat and asked the Lakshadweep Administration's counsel as to what the threat was. "I do not understand. Is it from external forces, a terrorist threat, a natural environmental threat? It is not clear," the judge said. The petitioners' counsel submitted that his clients were legitimate users of the land.
While stating that the court will hear the case again next week, the judge said, "I deem it appropriate that this Court should hear this matter in detail. However, since this matter has been moved urgently at 7.45pm on a Saturday, I am sure that status quo must be maintained."
Status quo must be maintained with respect to the properties by both sides so that this court can consider the dialectical contentions in detail, the court directed. Officials can keep an eye on the properties to allay any apprehensions of security threat for which necessary steps can be taken, the court said while scheduled a hearing on Tuesday.
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