The Madras High Court has ordered issuing of notice to officials of the Puducherry government on a petition that sought to quash a GO by claiming that house sites have been planned over a pond and pattas have been issued for the sites.
When the petition by P. Bhaskaran of Bahour Commune in Puducherry came up for hearing before the First Bench comprising S.K. Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, Government Pleader for Puducherry T. Murugesan accepted notice to respondents.
The Bench further directed the respondents to produce the details of the plan with photographs of the pond as well as the house sites and their distance between them. It granted time till June 2 for filing the details and further listed the case to June 8.
The petitioner submitted that despite opposition from people of nearby villages of Pillayarkuppam, the government had, in August last year, cut down trees on the tank bunds of the pond, which was the source of water for the area, following “pressure” from local politicians. Housing sites were eventually planned over the area.
The order of the High Court in August 2014 on his petition directing respondents to consider his representation against the cutting down of trees and planning of housing sites over the pond area has not been complied with, he stated.
Instead of complying with the order, the government had, on February 2 this year, informed the petitioner of its proceedings dated September 19, 2013, issuing pattas to 110 persons, he said.
On legal advice, he withdrew his earlier petition and filed this petition, he added.
Contending that issuing of pattas was in clear violation of the apex court judgment he further prayed to quash the order and direct officials to protect water bodies.
