The Kerala High Court on Friday reserved verdict on the appeals moved by the state government against a single judge order deferring till February 7 the survey being carried out in connection with SilverLine project on several properties in Kottayam district of the state.
A bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly heard arguments on behalf of the state, Railways and the property owners in a hearing which spanned several hours and then reserved its judgment, lawyers associated with the case said.
The single judge’s January 20 order had come on several pleas moved by the property owners against the laying of concrete poles, with the marking K-Rail, in their respective parcels of land.
The state government, in its appeal, has contended that there was no bar on laying concrete poles as survey marks under the Kerala Survey and Boundaries Rules or the Survey and Boundaries Act.
It has also contended that the survey being carried out was only for the purpose of marking properties for the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study and was not for land acquisition.
The 540 kilometre stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod would be developed by K-Rail — a joint venture of the Kerala government and the Railway Ministry for developing railway infrastructure in the southern state.
Starting from the state capital, SilverLine trains will have stoppages at Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode and Kannur before reaching Kasaragod.
