Lessee contests Harrisons decision

In a new episode in the ongoing legal tussle between the State Government and the Harrisons Malayalam Ltd over the ownership of estate land, the Edavana Madom, which claims to be the lessee, has come out against the company stating that it had no right to surrender the 831.52 acres of Kalleli estate in Konni. 

It also questioned the government’s move to sent a notice to the Malayalam Plantation with regard to the surrendering of the estate after the lease period.  Harrisons Malayalam Ltd the other day said that it would surrender 831.52 acre of land, the lease period of which expired.

 ‘’How can the company surrender the land that was leased out to it when it was not the rightful owner. The Malayalam Plantation had acquired the land on lease in 1910 and the lease period expired in 2010.

“Once the lease period expires, the property should be handed over to the lessee, which has not happened here,’’ head of the Edavana family Manomohan Pandarathil said.

Alleging that the government and the Harrison Malayalam company are working hand in glove in the issue, he said, “The government should have sent notice to us, who are the lessee, and not to the company with regard to the land.’’