The Madras High Court Bench here has dismissed a writ appeal filed by a group of 12 flower merchants against Madurai Agricultural Marketing Committee’s decision to construct a few buildings at a site originally earmarked for dumping garbage inside the paddy-cum-flower market complex near Mattuthavani bus stand here.
A Division Bench of Justices Satish K. Agnihotri and R. Sudhakar rejected the appeal after recording the submissions of Additional Advocate General (AAG) K. Chellapandian that the Marketing Committee had complied with a majority of the conditions imposed by a single judge of the High Court on April 30, 2013 while granting permission for the construction work. The AAG also assured the court that the rest of the court-imposed conditions would also be complied with. Accepting his assurance, the Bench said the appellants could not have any grievance in view of the categorical submissions made on behalf of the Marketing Committee. It further pointed out that the Committee had no intention to disturb the petitioners’ business.
The Division Bench also extracted the 14 conditions imposed by the single judge which included a direction to the Marketing Committee to find an alternative site between block H and block N for dumping garbage. The committee was also ordered to place four big metal garbage bins and to make sure that they were emptied regularly by the Corporation. The single judge had also directed the committee to establish more number of toilets. Pointing out that the court-appointed advocate commissioners had reported shortage of drinking water, the judge had directed the Committee as well as Corporation to provide drinking water facilities.
