The decision of the cash starved Kerala Government to hike basic land taxes by 50 per cent and Court-fees for various services have stirred a hornet's nest in the State as all sections of society have come out openly lambasting the LDF led administration.
The hikes were announced by finance minister K N Balagopal in his 2025-2026 budget speech on Friday in the backdrop of an unprecedented financial crisis being faced by Kerala. The first salvo was fired by Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany who described the decision to hike land tax as anti-farmer. "There will be strong protests against the decision to raise land tax for farmers who work hard to earn a living," said the Archbishop while inaugurating the Catholic Congress conference held at Thalassery late Sunday evening.
It may be remembered that the ties between the Catholic Church and the Congress-led UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF are at its lowest ebb following the indifference of both the parties towards the grievances of the Catholic community in the State. Mar Thomas Tharayil arch Bishop of Changanassery, in a pastoral letter which was read in Churches across the State on Sunday charged the Governments for sidelining the Christian community from all walks of life and ignoring their genuine demands. Interestingly, Archbishop Pamplany had assured the BJP of three Lok Sabha seats from the State if they hike the price of rubber to `350 per quintal.
Meanwhile lawyers across the State held demonstrations in front of the Courts criticising the steep hike in various services like filing of cases and the price of court fee stamps. "This hike will lead to filing of petitions in family courts and approaching the Court with suits dealing with Negotiable Instruments Act costly affairs," said T N Arun Kumar, a prominent CPI leader who led a demonstration of lawyers at Perumbavoor. The CPI is the second largest partner of the CPI(M) in the LDF and has asked for the immediate withdrawal of the hike in Court related rates. R S Sasikumar , chairman, Save University Campaign, leading whistle blower in the State said that the move to increase Court related charges was to dissuade the people from approaching the judiciary against the Government. "Not a single day passes in the State without reports of scams and corruption charges. The universities in the State are riddled with corruption. The ministers and CPI(M) leaders are vying with one another to make illegal money by way of appointments, transfers and awarding of contracts. The Government wants to silence its critics as well as victims of misdeeds. This is the only reason behind the hike in Court fees," said Sasikumar.