1. A voluntary organization by name one earth one life registered under the Travancore Cochin Scientific Literary and Charitable Societies Act has come up with Writ Petition (C) No. 28496/2016 for a declaration that the fragmentation and sale of Kinalur estate, (hereinafter referred to as the estate) a rubber plantation for non-plantation purposes, by the 10th respondent, M/s. Cochin Malabar and Industries Ltd., (hereinafter referred to as the company), is illegal as it will defeat the purpose of the Kerala Land Reforms Act. The petitioner is also challenging a Notification of the State Government dated 27.11.2015 granting exemption of stamp duty for registration of sale deeds in respect of private sale causing a loss of Rs. 2,39,56,220/- to the State Exchequer.

2. Facts, relevant, are stated in brief:-

The estate is a rubber plantation having a total extent of 2438 acres (987.27 hectares) comprised in re-survey Nos. 94, 95/1, 102/2, 103, 104, 105/1, 105/4, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114/1, 114/3 of Kinalur village, R.S. No. 2000/2, 2000/5, 1996/2, 1985/2, 1981/1, 1981/3, 1640/3, 1644, 1648/2, 1670/3, 1671/2, 1522/2, 2026/4 of Kanthalad village, R.S. 1/1, 1/3, 1/5,3, 117