The Supreme Court has ruled that if the land exceeds 25 cents, the fee must be paid for the entire property. The court upheld the state government’s circular, confirming its validity. Previously, the High Court ruling on land conversion fees had been stayed by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court overturned the High Court’s order, which had stated that only the excess land above 25 cents required a conversion fee. The verdict was issued while considering the state government’s appeal. The High Court had earlier ruled that, under Section 27(A) of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, the first 25 cents of land could be exempt from conversion fees. However, this exemption has now been struck down by the Supreme Court.
