The Madras High Court on Thursday quashed an order of the authorities calling for the demolition of a second block on the accident site in Moulivakkam, where a building collapsed on June 28, 2014, killing more than 60 persons.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice M.M. Sundresh, passed the order on a petition by M. Balagurusamy, managing director of Prime Srishti Housing Pvt. Ltd., the builder-promoter.
The court said the notice sought to rely upon a government order and connected records. When the notice was served, the petitioner sought the material to enable him to file a reply. However, other than the government order, the remaining materials were not made available to him.
The Bench said the material ought to have been provided the petitioner to facilitate him to make his defence. That had not been done. On this infirmity alone, the impugned order was being quashed.
The court directed authorities to hand over the complete material to the petitioner within 10 days.
The petitioner would file a reply within two weeks, thereafter. The district collector would then pass an order as expeditiously as possible.
