The Madras High Court Bench here on Monday directed the Tirunelveli Collector to consider a representation made by former Radhapuram MLA M. Appavu objecting to the use of 77 cents of government land at Panakudi for any purpose other than establishing Mano College affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University.
A Division Bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and Justice M.M. Sundresh passed the order while disposing of a public interest litigation petition filed by the former MLA. The petitioner claimed that the land, originally classified as ‘school poromboke' and assigned for building the college, was now being used to construct a residential quarters for police personnel.
He sought for a direction restraining the Collector and the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation (TNPHC) from alienating the land for any other purpose except for building the college. However, the judges said that they could not issue such positive direction as the court should not interfere with the policy decisions taken by the government on using a particular land for a public purpose.
In his affidavit, Mr. Appavu said that the residents of Radhapuram constituency demanded the establishment of a college for rural students in that area when he was the MLA between 2005 and 2011. “The students here were not able to get good education because of non availability of government colleges in the vicinity. There were only private colleges nearby and they were not affordable for the common man,” he said.
Hence, it was decided to establish the Mano College at Panakudi. It was inaugurated on September 23, 2010, in a rented building. Steps were also taken to construct permanent buildings for the college in the 77 cents of government land. The then Collector sanctioned Rs. 20 lakh for the project and Rs. 10 lakh was collected from the residents under the ‘Namakku Naame Thittam.'
The petitioner also claimed to have contributed Rs. 3 lakh from his constituency development fund. The buildings were planned to be built at a total cost of Rs. 33 lakh. The foundation stone laying ceremony was also held on February 26 this year. But after the change of government, the TNPHC issued a notification to construct residential quarters in the same land and hence the present petition.
