Govt. to take over estates owned by foreigners in Nelliampathy

By Our Staff Reporter

PALAKKAD, JULY 22. In a landmark decision the State Government has ordered the prosecution of the seven foreign nationals who illegally bought three estates in the Nelliampathy Hills in Palakkad district. It has also ordered the take-over of the estates ``to safeguard the interest of the State as well as the nation.''

The prosecution has been ordered for violating the Foreigners Act, the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973, the Kerala Forest Act, 1961 and the Central Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

An extent of 306.93 acres of forest land in three estates were bought by seven foreign nationals in the name of Nelliampathy Hills Conservation Society (NHCS) registered under the Travancore Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act, 1955. It is headed by a British national, Jeremy J. Fry, now residing at Nelliampathy as president of the society. The six other members are Mr. A.L. Fry, Middle Hill, England; Mrs. S. Fry, Middle Hill, England; Mr. Cosmo J. Fry, Somerset, England; Ms. Minna Fry, London; Mr. Francis P. Fry, London and Mr. Polly E. Higson. There are nine life-members in the society that include some leading environmental scientists and research persons connected with projects like the Project Tiger, etc., in the State.

The State Law Secretary said the activities of the society vested with the governing council which is controlled by the foreign nationals in their capacity as the founder-members. So, the society is exclusively governed by the foreign nationals. The society had acquired three estates in Nelliampathy - Monkwood, 85.58 acres; Monkwood II, 70 acres; and Rajakkad, 153.25 acres. More than eighty three acres of land had been transferred as per deed No.3425\95 dated 20-5-1995 of the Sub Registrar, Palakkad, and for the balance area also the society had entered into agreement with one V.G. Thomas of Cochin. The Rajakkad estate extending to 153.25 acres has been transferred by way of share transfer to Mr. Jeremy Fry, Mr. Philip Mathew, Mr. K.T. Sohan and Mr. V.G. Thomas.

The property mentioned above comes under the jurisdiction of the Nemmara Sub Registrar Office but has been registered in the SRO, Palakkad. From the nature and conduct of the transaction made by the society the foreigners appear to have circumvented the rules and regulations governed by the Transfer of Property Act and the Registration Act.

The tenure of land covered under the document is forest land under lease. Therefore, the Government has ownership and title over the lands and the lessees have lease-hold rights only. But the lessees have transferred the property as if they were the owners of the property and thus violated the terms of the lease deed. Thus, the Registration Department has registered such land without the no objection certificate from the Forest Department for which action has to be taken against the Department.

A report in this newspaper (`Secret activities on the hills,' January 23, 1998) had quoted the Forest authorities that the Nelliampathy Hills Conservation Society was indulging in clandestine activities and unauthorised eco-toxicology research in the fresh water system of the area. The then Divisional Forest Officer of Nemmara, Mr. Jayarajan, in his report sent to the State Government had stated that ``clandestine transactions of the forest land'' had been done by floating the society ``in order to circumvent the legal impediments in India.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : State to seek more Central fund
Next     : Widespread counterfeit currency circulation in
           central Travancore