HC says no to acquiring NSS land in Guruvayur

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday restrained the state government from taking possession of the land and building owned by the Nair Service Society and the Sree Guruvayurappan Sankeertana Trust in Guruvayur, for the development of the temple town.A Division Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice K Surendra Mohan issued the directive on a petition filed by NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair and trustee of the Sankeerthana Trust M Madhavankutty. The court had earlier given permission to the temple authorities to acquire 100 metres of land from the outer wall for the development of Guruvayur temple. The Guruvayur Devaswom managing committee and the government acquired 25 metres of land  around the temple following a High Court directive. It was now decided to acquire the rest of the land. The petitioners’ counsel advocate V  Chitambaresh contended that the temple would  look isolated after the acquisition of the land. “The notification had been issued under the emergency clause of the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring the remaining land. There was no need for invoking the clause as the land already acquired had not been utilised properly,” the petitioner submitted.