KOCHI: Barely days after the undertaking given by the state government no one will be evicted from their home for defaulting on loan repayments, an elderly couple on Thursday was dragged out of their home in Tripunithura, causing major embarassment to the LDF Government. However, after the eviction snowballed into a major row, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan intervened and the family was taken back to their house by evening.The cash-strapped couple -- Raman Korangattu,77, a TB patient and Vilasini,70, a heart patient -- was evicted after they failed to repay the Rs 1.5 lakh loan availed of from the Tripunithura Housing Cooperative Society. They had availed themselves of the loan to renovate the house.
Anil Kumar, who bought the house when it was put up for auction, agreed to give back the house for three months following the CM's intervention.The incident happened on Thursday afternoon when Maradu police visited the spot along with the court authorities to evict the six-member family comprising Raman and Vilasini, the couple's son Dineshan, his wife Maya and children Manasi, a plus one student, and Nanma, a third standard student which lived in the house situated on two cents of land.
Maya said the authorities broke open the doors saying the house did not belong to them anymore. “They rushed inside and dragged us out. When we told them the elderly persons are suffering from severe health conditions, they took them to a hospital. The cops later left the hospital after admitting them there,”she said.While the elderly couple were taken to the hospital, Maya went and fetched her daughter from school to avoid her returning to their locked house.Following the reports, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has suo motto registered a case. Besides, the Commission acting chairperson P Mohanadas has sought a report from the Tripunithura Housing Cooperative Society secretary in this regard. "It was injustice towards the elderly couple and a clear case of rights violation," Mohanadas said after visiting the couple at the General Hospital here.
"The couple's condition is heart-wrenching. I presume the property in question is much more valuable than what it was auctioned out for. This needs to be inquired into,” he said. Police officers said they provided assistance to the eviction on the orders of the Principal Munsiff. “We were under orders and the eviction was conducted by the court. It was our duty to provide assistance. We really want to show humanitarian considerations in such cases but it is very difficult when they do not cooperate and refuse to vacate,” said an officer.
The loan was taken by the family in 2006 and the debt including interest came to Rs 2.7 lakh. The housing society, according to sources, had auctioned the land and house for nearly Rs5 lakh. The people at Jawahar Road near the Kochi-Dhanushkodi Highway said the price of land in the region was over Rs 6 lakh per cent. An irate group comprising people broke open the lock of the house which had been locked up by the society as part of the attachment.The Tripunithura Housing Cooperative Society authorities were unavailable for comment.
House couple in same house: CM
T'Puram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed the Ernakulam District Collector to house the aged couple at the same house from where they were evicted the other day. The Chief Minister termed the incident highly unfortunate. A person, identified as Anilkumar, who bought the house in auction has agreed to give the house to the couple for three months. The Chief Minister asked the Collector to ensure food for the couple.
A heinous act: Chennithala
T'Puram: Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala said on Thursday the eviction of the aged couple was a heinous act. "The eviction by the CPM-controlled housing cooperative society came immediately after the Chief Minister's announcement in the Assembly that the government does not support recovery of houses under the SARFAESI Act," he said. Chennithala said the government which supported mafias and real estate tycoons was turning a blind eye to the plight of the aged couple. It revealed the government's real face. He demanded dissolution of the society and action against the erring office-bearers.