The Dalits and Adivasis are claiming that the Harissons Malayalam Ltd.'s land lease has long expired. The Chengara estate was leased to Harissons Malayalam Ltd. for 99 years by the Vanchipuzha Madhom family, which in its turn leased the land from the feudal ruler of Travancore. Travancore was one of the kingdoms who later merged into Kerala State. According to the statement of Harrisons Malayalam Ltd. in the High Court of Kerala, they have acquired these properties in the year 1800 and early 1990s and they claim that these are freehold land or leasehold land.
