To assist the court in ascertaining the state of basic amenities
The president of the Madurai Bench High Court Advocates Association M. Thirunavukarasu and president of Women Advocates Association J. Nisha Banu inspected the Maattuthavani bus stand in the city on Friday as per orders passed by the court on Tuesday in order to ascertain the state of the basic amenities available and the remedial measures required to rectify the defects.
The two advocates, who had consented to offer their services free of cost in their capacity as leaders of the Bar, would submit their report before Justice R. Sudhakar on or before September 17. The judge had asked them to inspect and submit a report while passing interim orders in a batch of about 20 writ petitions filed by individuals who had taken shops on lease inside the bus stand.
The petitioners had moved the court alleging that the Madurai Municipal Corporation officials were forcing them to close one of the two doors available in every shop though such doors were put up after obtaining necessary permission. However, the Corporation counsel contended that permitting two doors for every shop led to narrowing down of the common passage meant for bus travellers.
During the course of the hearing, it was brought to the notice of the judge that the bus stand had become a very dirty place due to lack of maintenance. The public toilets, inside the bus stand complex, too were not maintained properly and some of them were kept under lock and key. There were also no medical facilities inside the bus stand to attend to emergencies.
“These facts are not seriously disputed by the Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), the Law Officer and the Market Superintendent who are present in the court (on Tuesday),” the judge said and recorded their submission that steps were being taken to improve the facilities for the benefit of the commuters as well as the shop owners.
Nevertheless, he appointed the Bar leaders as Advocate Commissioners to inspect the premises and file a report. In the meantime, the Corporation officials were permitted to undertake remedial measures as they deem fit without awaiting the report from the lawyers.
