In a stern directive from the Kochi bench, the Kerala High Court has handed the state government its last opportunity to respond to a public interest litigation challenging the 1977 allocation of Kerala University land for the AKG Center for Research and Studies in Thiruvananthapuram. The division bench, led by Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice VM Shyam Kumar, issued the order on Thursday, emphasizing that no further extensions will be tolerated.
The controversy centers on a prime plot in the state capital, previously serving as the CPI(M)’s headquarters until last year. The PIL, filed by a former joint registrar of Kerala University, questions the legitimacy of the original land grant during former Chief Minister AK Antony’s tenure and highlights discrepancies in the land area currently occupied.
During proceedings, the special government pleader requested more time to locate the 1977 government order, noting its absence from records at the village office, district collectorate, and archaeology department. The petitioner alleges the order approved only 15 cents of land, yet the AKG Center and CPI(M) hold approximately 55 cents, incorporating university land and government poramboke.
Chief Justice Sen remarked sharply, ‘How much more time do you need? This is the final chance.’ Despite prior extensions, the court granted two weeks for the response, scheduling the next hearing three weeks later.
The disputed site hosts a multi-story complex with the CPI(M) state office, leaders’ chambers, and an air-conditioned auditorium for major events. The issue resurfaced last year when the party shifted to a new high-tech building nearby, reigniting debates over the land’s allocation and usage.
This long-simmering dispute underscores ongoing tensions between public institutions and political entities in Kerala, with the court’s intervention poised to clarify the historical transfer’s validity. Stakeholders await the state’s submission, which could reshape the narrative around this valuable asset.