Kerala Revenue Department slaps false case on tribal woman, asks to pay over Rs 14 lakh

Iritty: In yet another example of administrative failure, the Revenue Department has issued notice asking a tribal family to pay a fine of over Rs 14 lakhs in a 20-year-old case of poaching of teak by some unidentified people. 

K S Seetha of Sankarankandi tribal settlement at Thillankeri here received the notice directing to pay a fine of Rs 14,66,834 over the incident. Now, Seetha, an ailing person, is running from pillar to post with the notice.

In 2003, one-acre land was allotted to Seetha by the Revenue Department at Keecheri in Mattannur. The title deed was issued with a stipulation not to cut trees on the land. Seetha and her daughter moved from their family home at Sankarankandi at Thillankeri and settled in the allotted land. Later, Seetha moved back to Sankarankandi after her daughter died.

Meanwhile, 24 stumps of teak trees were stolen from her land. The family had lodged a complaint with the police, but the plunderers were not caught.

Her family had filed a complaint in this regard with the then Thalassery Tehsildar as well. Seetha’s sister Indira said that they also had received assurances from the people concerned that the legal action against the family for cutting trees would be stopped. "Let alone Rs 14 lakhs, we don't even have Rs 14. If she has money, will she get sick and end up in this condition?'' asked Indira, pointing at ailing Seetha.

When they approached the Iritty Taluk Office, the reply they got was to file a complaint with the Scheduled Tribes Development Minister in this regard.

Thillankeri Village Officer T K Sudheepan, meanwhile, said the notice was issued to the family on the basis of the audit report that fine could be imposed on the people concerned. The file has been lying pending for years. He said that the action is a part of making a decision at the government level after seeking explanations from the families.