KOCHI: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition that sought a review of the order directing the state government to evict those who encroached forest land after January 1, 1977.“Review petitions itself are an abuse of process,” observed the Bench, which had passed the verdict to evict encroachments from forest land approving the government’s stand on encroachments, especially large-scale encroachments. The state had filed an affidavit saying on January 1, 1977, 11,917.89 hectares of forest land was encroached upon.
Illegal dwellers were evicted from 4,628.55 hectares, but eviction on 7,289.337 hectares could not be done. The petitioners submitted they had occupied the forest land before January 1, 1977, and so should not be evicted under the guise of the judgment.