more-in MADURAI A large number of people, whose families were issued free pattas for 1.5 cents in 1993 in JJ Nagar near Tirupparankundram, petitioned Madurai Collector's office on Monday alleging cancellation of the pattas without an enquiry at the behest of people acting with vested interests. According to the petitioners, the free pattas were issued to 508 beneficiaries belonging to Anna Agricultural Labourers Association in 1993 for construction of houses. A. Kaluvanathan, one of the petitioners, said that while some people, who had money, constructed houses on the plot allocated to them while others, who did not have adequate resources, had left the plots vacant. M. Vijayalakshmi, whose mother had received the patta, said that since her mother had to save money for the marriage of her two daughters, she could not manage money to construct a house. “Now, when we approached the officials for transferring the patta to our legal heirs, we were told to our surprise that the pattas had been cancelled,” she said. G. Govindaraj, another petitioner, said that many of the original beneficiaries had sold the land to other people after the moratorium period of 10 years. “I was one of the persons who bought the land from a beneficiary in 2016. How can I be denied the rights to the land,” he asked. Mr. Kaluvanathan alleged that the revenue officials were acting at the behest of two persons, including a former councillor belonging to the AIADMK. “Though the officials have not showed us the cancellation order, a copy of it that we managed to obtain shows that the order was issued based on a petition filed by a particular ruling party member,” he said, adding that the two persons were acting with the interest of making monetary benefits by reissuing pattas for the same land to new beneficiaries. Mr. Govindaraj alleged that construction in progress now in some of the plots was stopped by the two persons with the support of a few revenue officials. When contacted, a senior revenue official, however, refuted the allegations of acting with vested interests. “As per conditions imposed while issuing the pattas, the beneficiary must construct a house on the plot within six months from the date of issuance. If not government can cancel the patta. Of the 508 beneficiaries, only 155 have constructed houses after 25 years. Hence, we took action,” he said.

Stay updated with all the Latest Madurai headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.