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Lack of development: HC registers suo motu PIL on students' letter

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has registered a case suo motu on a letter written by students from a village situated below Mullaperiyar dam in Idukki highlighting the lack of basic facilities in their place.


A division bench comprising chief justice S Manikumar and justice AM Shaffique asked the state government to respond after considering as a public interest litigation (PIL) the letter written by students of class 9B of Fathima High School of Mlamala near Vandiperiyar in Idukki.




The students - Dion Chacko, Greeshma Rajiv, and Gracemol Joji - had written a letter to justice Shaffique on October 14th and it was placed before the chief justice for consideration. The chief justice had then directed for registering a suo motu PIL.


Stating that they are writing the letter on behalf of 1,400 students of the three schools of Mlamala, which is the central point of four panchayats, the students said their place is a ‘no man’s land’ in terms of development. ‘Santhipalam’ across Periyar river built by the public by paving wild stones is the only means of transport on one side. All children, irrespective of boys and girls, go to school by walking and depending on ‘shuttle service’ conducted by jeeps. ‘Santhipalam’ becomes inundated during floods and the lands get isolated and become islands. It got damaged during the floods last year too.

The only other ‘Keerikkarapalam’ or ‘Nooradipalam’, which connects Mlamala to outside world on the other side is 100 years old and only light vehicles are permitted to travel as it is weak. Passengers have to get down at the bridge and have to get in again after reaching the other side, the letter said.


As the land comprises mostly of estates, the roads are not under public works department (PWD). As land has not been given up to PWD, government only spends nominal amounts for developing roads here. For emergency medical care, people have to rely on Kottayam Medical College, which is over 100 kilometres away.

The demand of a good road of Mlamala residents will become successful only if government lands are identified and such lands in possession of private parties are found out, the students said in the letter.


Widespread use of pesticides in the region was also highlighted in the students’ letter, stating that they suspect that the residents are developing illnesses that require intense medical case, which is often unaccessible due to cost and lack of infrastructure. They have also referred to drying up of the river during Summer and has sought a directive to release adequate water from the dam at such situations.

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