Corporation penalised for lethargy in work

First bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, while making the observation, imposed a cost of Rs 5,000 on Chennai Corporation and recover the same from the officer responsible for not having complied with the government order, which required all representations to be attended within one month. 

The issue pertains to a plea moved by B Gunasekar seeking to direct the Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, to conduct an enquiry on his representation and demolish the unauthorised construction on the street in the name of ‘Madha Temple’. 

The bench while disposing the petition held that “We are once again faced with the petition seeking disposal of representation against unauthorised construction made on June 28, 2016. Three and half months have lapsed and it is confirmed by the counsel appearing for the Corporation that nothing has been done yet.” The bench also noted that “We have repeatedly endeavored to emphasise to the State Government that they must attend to representations within time. The State Government has even issued a G.O. Ms.No.99 dated September 21, 2015 requiring all representations to be attended within a month.”

The bench also recorded the submission of the counsel appearing for the Slum Clearance Board that he has obtained instructions from the Executive Engineer, Zone-6, Chennai Corporation that action in accordance with law will be taken within two weeks.