In a judgment that is expected to have far-reaching implications for a wide range of ownership disputes involving plantation land across Kerala, the Pala sub-court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Monday in the Cheruvally estate ownership case in Erumely.
At the heart of the case is a long-running ownership battle between the state government and the Ayana Charitable Trust under KP Yohannan’s Believers’ Church. The case has gained further significance as the Cheruvally estate has been identified as the proposed site for the Sabarimala Greenfield International Airport.
The ruling is also expected to set a precedent for the remaining cases and affect the state’s broader efforts to reclaim plantation land.
State’s claim
The state government moved the sub-court in 2019 in a bid to reclaim the 2,263-acre piece of land spread across Erumely South and Manimala villages. The government claims the land is state property that was illegally sold in 2005 by Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML) to the Ayana Charitable Trust, then known as Gospel for Asia.
In 2015, MG Rajamanickam, a special officer appointed under the Kerala Land Conservancy Act to review long-term plantation leases, declared the transfer illegal and ordered restoration of the land. However, this order was later quashed by the High Court following an appeal by HML, forcing the state to settle the matter through the civil courts as ordered by both the High Court and the Supreme Court.
During the trial, the government relied on historical records to argue that the estate is registered as Pandaravakapattom land in the Settlement Register, the primary document used to determine land ownership. “Furthermore, two deeds dated 1947 also classify the property as Pandaravakapattom, which clearly indicates that the government leased the land to HML. Despite this, HML claimed ownership while transferring the land to the Ayana Trust, which is illegal,” said special government pleader Saji Koduvath.
An estimated three million acres of land are held by private companies across Kerala. The outcome of this case is expected to shape the state’s strategy for reclamation of such property.
With Cheruvally Estate being considered as the site for the proposed airport, the verdict has created considerable anticipation. The Church of the Faithful has consistently stated that it has no objection to the airport and has expressed its willingness to provide the requested land at a mutually agreed upon price. Earlier, the Supreme Court had barred the state government from taking over the property for the airport project and directed that all compensation be deposited in court.
Published – 17 Jan 2026 20:20 IST
