Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday ruled that buildings, both commercial and residential, seized as part of the LDF government's effort to curb alleged encroachments in Munnar and other parts of the Idukki district, should not be demolished until further orders are issued.

The bench of Justices A. Muhamed Mustaque and Shoba Annamma Eapen also ruled that the government could decide what to do with the seized buildings.

Meanwhile, the court objected to the destruction of crops on the cardamom, tea, and other plantations and suggested leasing or transferring them to Kudumbashree.

The ruling came in the wake of the court considering petitions filed by "One Earth One Life" seeking to evict encroachers from government lands in Munnar.