‘Harrisons’ writ based on forged papers’

The state government on Friday submitted before the Kerala High Court that Harrisons Malayalam Ltd had filed various writ petitions regarding the possession of land based on documents of titles which were forged and invalid.

The state also requested that conflicting decisions by various benches of the HC on the issue may be avoided.

According to P M Nalini, Deputy Collector-cum-Liaison Officer (Revenue), a statement filed by the company before the court on April 4, 1972, was based on fraudulent and invalid documents of title over government land in the districts of Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Wayanad.

“The statements filed before the Secretary, Land Board, Thiruvananthapuram, is just a letter issued by the Malayalam Plantation Limited, which was as if it was made in England.”

“However, the letter is signed by the manager, Harrison and Cross field, as the agent, where the address was shown as Cochin, South India. It cannot be accepted as a valid declaration,” the state said.

The state submitted that the draft statement issued by the Taluk Land Board (TLB), South Wayanad, on October 6, 1977, was not typed out from the TLB office or from the government press.

“It appears to be a computer print-out from a high-tech computer with ink-jet printer showing different fonts. Such a declaration in 1977 is not possible in any revenue office in the state. Even the draft declaration issued by the TLB is fabricated,” the state pointed out.

The company had encroached upon 763 acres of land which was to be distributed to the landless poor, the affidavit said.