Stay on charging guests in Vellore lodges extended

The government has informed the Madras High Court that since the individuals who are in Vellore Municipality for treatment at Christian Medical College are staying in private accommodation, it cannot interfere in the matter.

The submission was made by Government Pleader V Jayaprakash Narayanan before a division bench comprising Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana regards a plea which sought to quash the notice issued to inmates of all lodges in Vellore to bear 50 per cent of the cost.

The Government Pleader also submitted that if the petitioner/s, whose cause is espoused in the present writ, approach the authorities for government accommodation, the State can take steps for the same.

However, the bench directed the State to file its status report and extended the interim stay on collection of room rent until May 11. It directed the petitioner’s counsel to submit a Status Report about the monetary aspect and whether the petitioner can arrange for some funds to be paid to the lodge owners.