Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala — A stark warning from the Kerala revenue department shows that more than 95 % of the outstanding lease dues owed to the state government are currently tied up in legal stays, severely limiting the government’s ability to collect crucial revenue. According to the latest official figures, of the ₹408.53 crore in total lease dues due from private individuals and organisations for use of government-owned land, ₹390.81 crore is under court stay orders, leaving just ₹17.72 crore legally recoverable — of which only ₹3.17 crore (17 %) has been collected so far.
This situation has hampered revenue mobilisation efforts at a time when the state is under increasing fiscal pressure. Lease rents on government land — a traditional source of non-tax revenue — remain largely inaccessible because of prolonged litigation in various courts. Revenue officials note that even amounts not currently under legal challenge face slow recovery, signalling administrative bottlenecks in enforcement.
Thiruvananthapuram district alone accounts for the highest pending legally recoverable arrears (₹8.08 crore), followed by Malappuram (₹1.93 crore) and Alappuzha (₹1.15 crore). However, enforcement action varies widely — Pathanamthitta district has issued numerous notices and even cancelled leases over non-payment, while in Thiruvananthapuram, despite its high dues, no lease cancellations have been recorded, prompting questions about consistency in enforcement.
With such a large share of lease dues effectively locked up in judicial limbo, the revenue department has proposed a one-time settlement scheme resembling an amnesty to resolve long-pending cases and unlock stuck dues. This proposal is currently under consideration by the finance department, but until it is approved — and unless legal stays are vacated — most of the ₹408.53 crore in arrears is likely to remain out of the government’s immediate reach.
Officials and economists warn that addressing these legal and administrative obstacles is essential not just for boosting revenue, but also for improving land management and enforcing lease contracts on public assets.
