The Madras High Court has appointed two Advocate Commissioners who will inspect the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex and submit their report by February 5.
In its order on a petition by ‘Dr. Ambedkar Sumaithukkum Thozhilalar Nala Sangam’, represented by its president, P.A.Joseph, the First Bench headed by the Chief Justice H.L.Gokhale said the Chief Administrative Officer of the Market Management Committee would assist the Advocate Commissioners, K. Ravi Anantha Padmanabhan and G.Purushothaman, in conducting the inspection and submitting the report. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) will deposit Rs.20,000 in the court as initial expenses.
The petitioner submitted that there were no proper drinking water and drainage facilities in the complex. There was no public toilet for both the public and shop-keepers.
The existing toilet was not maintained properly and was in a totally unusable condition. Power connections were in a dangerous condition and there had been cases of electrocution in the past.
There was no proper rain water harvesting facility. During rain, water stagnated in the complex. Garbage had piled up.
All these were despite the fact that a large managing committee consisting of highly-placed officers was supposed to be managing the market.
The petitioner’s counsel, E.Vijay Anand, sought appointment of an Advocate-Commissioner to verify the veracity of the complaints made against the management committee in respect of management of the complex.
The writ petition has been adjourned to February 11.
