Expressing displeasure over the manner in which a project was undertaken by Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB), the Madras High Court has ordered that the tenements constructed near Coimbatore without permission would not be allowed to be occupied unless necessary sanction was obtained.
In a recent order on a PIL petition by Vishwanath Swami, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam observed that the inadequacies came to light only after the PIL plea was filed, following which the State government “had woken up” to the inadequacies and obtained requisite permissions.
The petitioner submitted that 960 tenements at Anna Nagar in Madukkarai and 224 tenements at Malai Nagar in Sundakkamuthur in Coimbatore were constructed by TNSCB violating certain norms and without obtaining necessary approval.
During the hearing of the case, the Additional Advocate General submitted that the only thing which needed to be done was issuance of a Government Order as necessary permissions and sanctions have already been obtained.
“We must express displeasure over the manner in which the project had been undertaken – putting the case before the horse. The government cannot be a violator – various competent authorities have undertaken the project without first obtaining the requisite permissions, as would be expected of any other private citizen,” they said.
Observing that the petitioner should be compensated for the costs incurred in approaching the court, the Bench further directed the State to pay Rs. 10,000 to the petitioner.
Petitioner alleged that 960 tenements in Madukkarai and 224 in Malai Nagar were constructed by TNSCB violating norms
