The Madras High Court on Tuesday summoned the Commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation to explain the reasons for not having demolished the remains of a multi-storey building at Vadapalani here where a fire broke out on May 8 last year killing four including two children.
A Division Bench of Justices Vineet Kothari and Anita Sumanth ordered that the Commissioner should be present in the court on Wednesday to explain the delay in demolishing the building. The order was passed after the corporation counsel claimed that it would cost around ₹ 14 lakh for the demolition.
He said, the corporation had issued a notice to the building owner seeking payment of the quantified amount. Wondering which building owner would come forward to pay money for the demolition of his own property, Mr. Justice Kothari said, the corporation should first demolish it and then take steps to recover the costs.
The judges also wanted to know what action had been taken so far against the officials of the corporation who had removed the seal put up on the building in 2016 on account of various violations. If the enquiry against them had been completed, the judges said, the Commissioner should apprise the court of the punishment imposed on them.
They further called for details related to the quantum of compensation paid to the family members of those who had died as well as sustained injuries in the fire accident. The interim directions were issued on a public interest litigation petition filed by activist ‘Traffic’ K.R. Ramaswamy seeking compensation of ₹ 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased.
