2023-08-05 13:26:23
Kochi ∙ The High Court has ordered that the conversion of land up to 25 cents should be free. The High Court directed the government that the fee should be charged only for excess land. The Division Bench dismissed the State Government’s appeal in this regard. A native of Idukki approached the High Court against the government action. The High Court had directed that if the land purchased under the Paddy Wetlands Conservation Act was not notified after 2017, but less than 25 cents, the conversion fee should be waived. The government appealed against this.
The order of the High Court was in the petitions filed by U.Sumesh, U.Sudheesh and Saresh Shankar, natives of Palakkad, against the position of the revenue authorities that if the fee is less than 25 cents, but it is purchased after 2017. The Kerala Paddy Wetland Conservation Act states that no fee shall be paid for conversion of land less than 25 cents which has not been notified as land. Accordingly, the petitioners applied for fee exemption for change of land type.
But the government order said that if the land which remained as one plot till December 30, 2017 is converted into plots with an area of 25 cents or less, then the free will not be applicable and the fee should be collected as one plot. The petitioners purchased the land after 2017. Therefore, the revenue authorities took the stand that they cannot give the fee. However, the court clarified that the position that the land was purchased after December 2017, even though it was less than 25 cents, will not be exempted according to the law and regulations.
English Summary: Kerala High Court ordered land reclassification free up to 25 cents
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