Kalasa villagers sad as HC dismisses review petition

With the High Court dismissing the review petition filed by the villagers of Kalasa on Inam land, there is a pall of gloom among the villages.

 The High Court order to clear Inam land holders from their land holdings is now hanging like a sword of damocles on the villagers. The villagers have sought a stay on their eviction from the forest area. 

With this, the coffee estates grown on 6777 acre Inam land is likley to be cleared by the forest department. The High Court had declared Inam land as reserve forest in its judgement on April 20, 2012. “The judgement was a death knell on all the farmers. It has taken away our source of livelihood,” said Inam land victims who have been staging protest in Kalasa Naada Kacheri for the last two weeks.

 “We still believe in judiciary. We are expecting justice in the hands of Supreme Court. We have to project our problem properly in the court,” they said. Inam Santrasthara Samithi Secretary T V Venkatasubbaiah said, “we will discuss on filing a petition in the Supreme Court. The decision will be taken after convening a meeting of different political parties and organisations,” he added. District Congress Member K C Dharanendra said “the decision of the High Court is not final.  Now, the government can distribute title deeds under Forest Rights Act.” 

“The government can also denotify the Inam Land after obtaining permission from the Central government. The State government has to take an initiative. We will file a review petition in the SC through former MP Jayaprakash Hegde.”

Legal experts said that the State government should intervene and come to the rescue of Inam land holders. The government can take a decision in the Assembly and send the resolution seeking denotification of the land to the Centre for approval.