The Kerala High Court on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the delay in complying with its earlier order to confiscate the properties of the leaders of the banned outfit, Popular Front of India (PFI) and gave an ultimatum to the State Government to do it immediately.

The court came down heavily on the State Government for not confiscating the property of the PFI leaders in connection with the violence and destruction of properties during their hartal call.

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The Court , further, asked the Government to explain the reasons behind the delay to implement the court order saying that the destruction of public property cannot be taken lightly.

A division bench of the court comprising Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice CP Muhammad Niaz, gave the ultimatum to the State Government that it should complete the recovery proceedings for the destruction of  properties from the PFI leaders soon.

The confiscation process should be completed immediately and a report on it should be submitted by 23 of January, the court said. The court also made it clear that there was no need to issue any notices for the confiscation proceedings.

Earlier last month, the Kerala Government tendered unconditional apology before the High Court for the delay in confiscating the properties of the PFI leaders to recover the loss of property during the PFI-called state-wide shutdown 23 September.

The Additional chief secretary, Home Department also assured the Court that the confiscation process will be completed by 15 January. The Court was irked by the fact that the proceedings were not completed even after the deadline.

A large number of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses came under attack on the hartal day by PFI workers. Other public properties were  also damaged, causing huge losses. Public property worth Rs.5.20 crore was destroyed during the hartal call.

Following the violent incidents, the High Court registered a suo motu case and directed police to make leaders of the PFI, who made hartal calls, accused in these cases. It also gave instructions to all courts that the arrested should not be released on bail till they deposit damages incurred during the shutdown.

Two days after the shutdown, the High Court filed a contempt case against the PFI and ordered it to deposit Rs.5.20 crore with the additional chief secretary (Home). If the amount was not deposited, the Court directed the Government to confiscate its property.