Plea against use of college ground for vehicle parking

MADURAI

A petition was filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday seeking a direction to Thanjavur district authorities not to grant permission for conducting public meetings or parking of vehicles for such events at Mannar Serfoji Government Arts College ground.

The petitioner, R. Sankar, who had earlier filed a petition against the use of the government college ground for parking vehicles during MGR birth centenary celebration, said the district authorities had failed to restore the ground to its original state. They had earlier assured that the ground would be restored after the celebration.

The petitioner said the district authorities had uprooted trees and poles used for sports. The compound wall was also breached to allow access to the ground, which was used by the public and students of the college for various sports and other activities like walking and yoga.

Though representations were made seeking restoration of the ground to the district authorities action was yet to be taken, said the petitioner.

A division bench of Justices M. Venugopal and R. Tharani directed the district authorities to file their counter-affidavits.