HC frowns on ineffective action taken by officer

If Chennai Corporation officers are incapable of discharging their duties, then it is better they are dispensed with, the Madras High Court observed on Tuesday.

The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice M. Sathyanarayanan, directed an officer who issued a ‘stop work’ notice on a building at Kottur here, be personally present in the court on December 3. This was because the court was informed by the petitioner concerned that the work continued even after the notice was served.

The petitioner, R. Narashimman of Kottur, alleged one S. Ravi was making an “unauthorised construction” on a piece of land.

He was also charged with encroaching on land belonging to Peeliamman temple, and illegally closing a well in the temple that was being used by the public.

A complaint was lodged with the Kotturpuram police. Thereafter, the HR and CE department evicted the encroachments on the temple land and also restored the well. On October 30, the civic body issued a ‘stop work’ notice. However, despite this, the construction continued.

The petitioner asked the court to direct Corporation authorities to demolish the construction.

The Bench observed that it was shocking to learn that despite the notice, there was an allegation that work was going on. “It cannot be the function of the court to supervise each administrative action of the Chennai Corporation. If officer/officers are incapable of performing their duties, then it is better they are dispensed with.”

The court called upon the Corporation Commissioner to file a status report within three days.