Implement Act to abolish Mulageni, appeals Vedike

'There are about 11,000 pending cases related to Mulageni issue'

Mulageni Okkalu Rakshana Vedike that has been fighting for the abolition of Mulageni tenancy system in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, has demanded the State government to form the rules and implement the Conferment of Ownership on Mulageni or Volamulageni Tenants Act 2011, at the earliest.

In the fourth annual general body meeting of the Vedike at Don Bosco Hall on Sunday, Vedike Legal Advisor A P Gowrishankar said that though the issue was in the High Court, the government could form rules, as the Court has not granted stay to the implementation of the Act. After the government passed the Act, the landlords filed a writ petition in the Court questioning the relevancy of the Act. The Court which heard both the parties, had posted the judgement to March, 2014. But, even after several months of the specified date, the Court has not issued an order in connection to the case, he said.

Meanwhile, he requested the government to place the Act open for discussion, make necessary amendments, form rules and appoint a special officer to implement the Act without further delay. It has been three years since the Act was passed, but the wait of tenants to enjoy the land rights continues. He also refuted the demands of landlords to revise the compensation or pay 40 to 50 per cent of the money to the landlords that the tenant gets by selling the land.

Vedike Vice President Jospeh Martis said that there are approximately 11,000 pending cases related to Mulageni issue in various courts. Several tenants are facing the fear of being evicted from the landlords. Though a meeting was held under the aegis of the district administration last year, to sort out the issue between tenants and landlords amicably, the landlords did not respond positively, he said.

As per this system, Mulageni tenants have the rights to enjoy the property which they possess, but not to sell, mortgage or transfer the same, at their will and wish. This right is not absolute as per the Land Revenue Act.

Responding to the plea of the tenants, MLC Ivan D’Souza promised of helping them by arranging a meeting with the chief minister before the next session and make the government understand the complexity in the issue.