The Madras High Court has appointed an advocate commissioner to inspect and file a report on the alleged encroachment by the Nadigar Sangam Charitable Trust and South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA). The Sangam has also assured the court that no construction activities would be carried out in the disputed site till the issue is settled by the court.
A vacation Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and V. Parthiban passed the interim order on a plea moved by K.M. Srirangan and R. Annamalai, both residents of Vidhyodaya Colony T Nagar.
“Advocate Commissioner K.Ellangoo is appointed to measure the property of Nadigar Sangam with the assistance of Assistant Director of Survey and Tahsildar, Guindy Taluk. Both the parties are directed to co-operate with the Commissioner and give complete assistance by providing all the documents. The Commissioner is at lliberty to seek all the records from the revenue department and even from the Corporation of Chennai,” the Bench said and posted the plea to June 2.
According to the petitioners, the colony has two approach roads to reach Habibullah Road, one is through the Kodambakkam High Road and another is the 33 feet road connecting Habibullah Road and Prakasam Street. The second one being the shortest, most of the residents and school-going children use it to reach the colony.
“But now residents of the colony and public are prevented from using the road by the trust and SIAA since they have blocked the road for constructing a building for the association. They have no rights to block and encroach the public road. Since the members of the association have influence over government authorities they managed to get Patta for the encroachment in 2010 suppressing material facts,” the petitioners said.
They also added that the colony being a residential area, the association cannot be allowed to construct multi-storied mall or multiplex theatres in the area, which would suffocate the already chocked roads.
