HC frowns at State, local officials for dilatory tactics

Passing interim orders on a plea pertaining to the failure of the authorities to remove a statue installed without permission citing law and order and problem, a division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha said, “They want a positive direction from this court to discharge their duties. The said kind of dilatory tactics adopted by the concerned officials deserves condemnation and deprecated.”

In a public interest litigation, the petitioner alleged that the statue of late Chief Minister MG Ramachandran was erected in front of the 300-year-old Arulmigu Varasakthi Vinayagar temple in Nesapakkam (Zone-10) without permission.

The information he obtained under Right to Information Act from the Zonal Officer of Kodambakkam revealed that no permission whatsoever was obtained to install the statue in front of the temple.

After perusing the photographs and documents, the bench noted that the only reason cited for not removing the state was law and order problem, and ordered notice to the government returnable by March 10.

The bench also directed the Nesapakkam authorities, including the jurisdictional Corporation and police officials police, to inspect the place and file a status report with supporting documents and photographs.