Meymol Vs Forest Dept: How this Kerala woman won land rights in court, fighting the system alone

Kochi: Meymol P Davis of Painadath House near Kurbana Para at Thrikariyoor in Kothamangalam was never one to be shaken by the wild elephants that frequently wandered into her property. But it was this very Meymol that the Forest Department tried to intimidate. Realising that speaking directly would not help, Meymol went straight to the High Court. Skillfully dismantling the objections raised by the Forest Department one by one, she moved forward with determination — prompting the High Court to remark, “Meymol is smart.”

Meymol had decided back in 2018 to give up her land — where wild elephants frequently roamed — to the government under the Rebuild Kerala Development Programme. Her father had passed away earlier, and her mother Molly was suffering from an illness — both of which influenced her decision. However, the Forest Department rejected her application, citing incomplete land records.

To file a case in the High Court, Meymol descended from the hills and travelled to Ernakulam to meet with lawyers. But she couldn’t afford their fees. She also failed to receive assistance from KELSA (Kerala State Legal Services Authority). So she decided to argue the case herself.

She gathered the syllabus of LLB (Bachelor of Laws), studied it, and filed the case with a basic understanding of the law. She rectified all the errors pointed out by the registry and moved ahead. The court ordered that half of the compensation — valued at ₹45 lakh — be paid initially.

After receiving the first instalment, the Forest Department once again raised disputes. They insisted that the remaining amount would only be paid if the land was registered in the Forest Department's name. The High Court directed that the second instalment be deposited in the court, and upon submission of proof that the land had been registered in the name of the Forest Department, it permitted the release of the remaining funds. It was Meymol herself who wrote and registered the deed.

However, Meymol now argues that she is entitled to compensation for the mental and emotional toll caused by the prolonged runaround she endured at the hands of the Forest Department. Therefore, she filed an interlocutory application on Tuesday. The Division Bench has sought an explanation from the Forest Department.

This 35-year-old woman holds a postgraduate degree in History and Archaeology.