The Kerala High Court today stayed the eviction notice issued against the occupants of Merchiston estate including Indian Institute of Space Science Technology.
Admitting a writ petition filed by the estate owner Xavie Mano Mathew and Indian Institute of Space Sciences Technology, challenging the notice, the division Bench, comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice K T Sankaran stayed eviction proceedings for a period of three weeks.
The Thiruvananthapuram District Forest Officer and Custodian of Ecologically Fragile Land had issued eviction notice to the petitioners.
Additional advocate general, appearing for the state said, eviction proceedings would not be carried out.
Recording this assurance, the bench stayed the eviction proceedings.
Meanwhile, two PILs seeking CBI investigation into the Merchiston estate land deal at Ponmudi near Thiruvanathapuram. was also admitted by the court.
ISRO had entered into the land deal with the estate owner for setting up its Space Institute. The court also directed the government to file counter-affidavit
