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Kerala High Court Orders Clarity on Highway Land Status, Critical for NHAI Project
KOCHI, October 24, 2025 – The Kerala High Court has intervened in a dispute between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the State government regarding the status of a crucial 14.50-kilometer stretch of National Highway 85. The court has directed the State government to issue a definitive order clarifying whether the Neriyamangalam-Valara section falls under revenue or forest land.
The directive, issued by a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, follows a review petition filed by the NHAI. The NHAI sought modification of a prior interim order that classified the stretch as part of a reserve forest, effectively halting ongoing National Highway expansion works.
The NHAI argued that the road has been a public highway since the 1930s, citing a 1938 Travancore government notification. They presented maps with geomarkings to support their claim. However, the State government’s handling of the matter has drawn criticism from the court. The court noted the government previously filed two contradictory affidavits regarding the land’s status.
Recognizing the importance of both the NHAI’s project and the ecological sensitivity of the hilly, heavily vegetated area, the court emphasized the need for a serious and conclusive determination.
The court has ordered the formation of a joint team comprising revenue and forest officials. This team will demarcate the area and identify any trees that would be affected if the land is determined to be non-forest land. The case has been adjourned to December 1 for further hearing. The outcome of this clarification process is expected to have significant implications for the future of the NHAI’s project and the environmental impact on the region.
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