Anvar's excess land: HC denies state’s request for more time to submit affidavit

Kochi: It has been three years since the High Court directed the state government to initiate action against MLA P.V. Anvar and file an affidavit. It was alleged that the minister and his family members were in possession of land beyond the permissible limit. The government had asked the HC to grant more time to submit the affidavit; however, the court denied the request.

Rejecting the request, the HC directed that a detailed affidavit should be filed before the petition is heard again on July 18. The measures taken to reclaim the surplus land must be detailed in the affidavit. 

On 20 March 2020, the HC had issued an order to recover the surplus land held by Anwar and his family within a period of six months. In January 2022, the court maintained the same judgment and ordered the procurement of surplus land within five months.  

A contempt petition stating that the court’s order hadn’t been implemented was taken into consideration by Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan. K.V Shaji who is landless and the coordinator of the Malappuram district Right to Information Association is the petitioner.