HC quashes government notice to Believers Church

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday quashed the notice issued by the government to Believers Church to show reasons for not acquiring Cheruvally Estate which is in the possession of the Church. The Division Bench comprising Justice A K Basheer and Justice P Q Barkath Ali has also nullified the cancellation of mutation of the land. Believers Church had bought 2263 acres of land from Harisson Malayalam. The government issued the notice on the ground that Harrisons Malayalam does not have the right to sell the land. The government also said the sold land included forest land. The court has directed the Believers Church not to hand over the possession of the land till the case pending before Vythiri Taluk Land Board is disposed of. However, the court has upheld the decision of the government to revise the  seignorage rate of rubber wood.  The petitioner has not produced any material to show that revision in seignorage rate was irrational or exorbitant, the court said.