Kodaikanal Boat and Rowing Club moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday challenging the Dindigul Collector’s order rejecting its application for renewal of licence.
The club, represented by its secretary V.R. Ramachandra Durai Raja, said it was originally registered as Kodaikanal Boat Club and the name was changed to Kodaikanal Boat and Rowing Club in 1995. In 1906, a piece of land measuring six cents was purchased from a private party. Another land, measuring eight cents, was given on a 49-year lease to the club in 1921. This lease period was further extended in 1974.
The club was in possession of the total 14 cents of land. When Kodaikanal Municipality wanted to lay a road around the lake, the club had to give up the property in which the boat house was originally constructed.
The club was forced to put up a construction on the remaining portion of the leased land and it got necessary permission. Meanwhile, a government order was passed transferring the control of the lake from the Fisheries department to the municipality.
However, fishing rights and boating activities were retained by the Fisheries department. A separate notification was to be issued in this regard. As an application for renewal of licence was rejected by the Collector, the club had been directed to hand over the land, the petitioner said.
The Collector’s order was passed without giving a reasonable opportunity to the club, the petitioner claimed and sought a stay on it. Justice R. Mahadevan ordered that the petition be tagged with a public interest litigation petition that challenged the club’s use of lake for boating activities. The case will be heard on October 15.
