Observing that reclassifying waterbodies and permitting construction of buildings on them for government establishments amounts to a fence grazing the crops, the Madras High Court Bench here on Wednesday suo motu included the Chief Secretary, Revenue Secretary, Public Works Department Secretary and Land Administration Commissioner as respondents to one such case related to a waterbody in Dindigul district.
A Division Bench of Justices K.K. Sasidharan and G.R. Swaminathan passed the order and directed the officials to submit their replies by August 7. P. Duraisamy of Velampatti Panchayat in Natham Taluk had filed the case accusing the panchayat of constructing a community hall on the waterbody created during the reign of King Saruhu Thenthilingamanaickar for the purpose of irrigation and catering to the drinking water needs of the people.
The petitioner said that the government had initially granted permission to the panchayat to conduct a cattle market on the banks of the waterbody.
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Utilising the permission, the local body began conducting the market right on the reservoir part of the waterbody.
Subsequently, it was decided to construct a community hall too in the same place, the petitioner claimed and apprehended that such conversion of the water source would be detrimental to the interests of the villagers.