G.Deva v. The Chennai Metropolitan
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 01.08.2023
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE J.NISHA BANU AND THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE N.MALA G.Deva ..Petitioner Vs.
1. The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, represented by its Chairman, No.1, Pumping Station Road, Chintadripet, Chennai - 600 002.
2. The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Ripon Buildings, E.V.R.Road, Chennai - 600 003.
3. The Executive Engineer, Corporation of Chennai - ZONE - VIII,
4. The Assistant Executive Engineer (Unit -22) Corporation of Chennai-ZONE-VIII, Page 1/7
5. The Assistant Engineer(Dn-105), Corporation of Chennai, ZONE -VIII,
6. Poongavanam, Son of Anandhan
7. The Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
(R7 suo motu impleaded as per order dated 01.08.2023 passed by JNBJ & NMJ) ... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents 1 to 5 to remove the unauthorised construction made on water drain channel by the 6th respondent by considering the petitioner's representation dated 13.07.2020. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Jayaprakash For Respondents : Mr.R.K.Kalpana for R1 Mr.D.B.R.Prabu, Standing Counsel for R2 to R5 Mr.S.Rajendran for R6 Mr.P.Gurunathan, Additional Government Pleader for R7 Page 2/7
O R D E R
This Writ Petition has been filed for a Mandamus to direct the respondents 1 to 5 to remove the unauthorised construction made on water drain channel by the 6th respondent by considering the petitioner's representation dated 13.07.2020.
2. The case of the petitioner is that the Kavangarai canal was originally formed for the purpose of Virugambakkam drain development plan and the respective land owners have also received the compensation whose lands were acquired for the said purpose. The Kavangarai Canal branch starts from Virugambakkam and gets separated from Koyambedu Pul Canal and crosses Vadapalani. The said canal is of 30 feet in breath and 4 KM in length. The 6th respondent has constructed a building considered to be a partially residential and commercial at No.109, West Periyar Pathai, Arumbakkam, Chennai - 600 106 without approval and building plan. The 4th & 5th respondent issued prenotice under sections 56 & 57 of Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 asking him to produce the approved plan in notice dated 20.03.2019. The 3rd respondent issued Locking and Sealing Notice to the 6th respondent vide proceedings dated 04.04.2019. Thereafter, no action has been taken by the 3rd Page 3/7
to 5th respondents against the 6th respondent. These kinds of encroachments are the root cause for the flood in the city. Once 100 feet road is flooded, the entire locality gets flooded as a consequence, the ground floor gets fully waterlogged causing huge inconvenience for the day-to-day life of people and also causing huge traffic for hours together. The petitioner also sent representation to the respondents 1 to 5 to take action against the 6th respondent in this regard. But till date, no action was taken. Hence, the present writ petition.
3. When the matter is taken up, learned standing counsel appearing for the 2nd to 5th respondents Corporation would state that application under Section 80-A filed by the 6th respondent is pending before the Government, but the Government is not a party to this writ petition.
4. In view of the above submission, this Court suo-motu implead "The Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009" as a party respondent/7th respondent to this writ petition.
5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court directs Page 4/7
the 7th respondent to consider the appeal filed by the 6th respondent under Section 80-A of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act and pass orders on merits and in accordance with law within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.
(J.N.B,J.) (N.M., J.) Index : Yes / No 01.08.2023 Internet : Yes vsi To
1. The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, represented by its Chairman, No.1, Pumping Station Road, Chintadripet, Chennai - 600 002.
2. The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Ripon Buildings, E.V.R.Road, Chennai - 600 003.
3. The Executive Engineer, Corporation of Chennai - ZONE - VIII, Page 5/7
4. The Assistant Executive Engineer (Unit -22) Corporation of Chennai-ZONE-VIII,
5. The Assistant Engineer(Dn-105), Corporation of Chennai, ZONE -VIII,
6. The Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
Page 6/7
J. NISHA BANU, J.
and N.MALA,J.
vsi W.P.No.1667 of 2021 01.08.2023 Page 7/7