Talks on the Malayidamthuruth land dispute have hit a snag

A cabinet-level discussion to resolve the Pariyathukavu land dispute, scheduled for Friday (June 12, 2026) night, was postponed at the last minute, sparking speculation on the politically sensitive issue. The meeting was called to discuss a proposal submitted by the government to prevent the eviction of seven Dalit families from the 2.69-acre Pariyathukavu settlement in Malayidamthuruth near Kizhakkambalam following a private court case.

The meeting, to be chaired by Minister for Higher Education Roji M. John, was scheduled for 8:00 pm at the District Collectorate. The official announcement stated that the meeting was postponed to a later date. The reason for the delay was not given.

Representatives of resident families came to the meeting at the Collectorate. “We were only told that the meeting was postponed at the last minute. We suspect that the private party that won the title to the land may not have agreed to the government’s proposal,” said KM Siraj, convener of the Pariyathukavu Action Council, which represents Dalit families.

Sources with the minister said the meeting was not postponed due to any inconvenience on his part. The heirs of the late Kannattu Sankaran Nair, who secured favorable court orders in support of their claim to the land after a long court case, were not available for comment.

During a previous meeting, the government asked the family to consider allocating five cents of land to each of the seven families within the disputed property. She also promised to build houses and provide basic amenities for families once both sides agreed to the proposal.

Published – 13 Jun 2026 01:34 IST