A.Venkatesan, v. The District Collector,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 7/9/2018 C O R A M THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE S.MANIKUMAR AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD Writ Petition No.5771 of 2018 A. Venkatesan ...
Petitioner Vs
1. The District Collector Sathuvachari Vellore District.
2. The Assistant Director O/o. Assistant Director Town Panchayat Vellore Zone Vellore District.
3. The Executive Officer Thesur Town Panchayat Thiruvannamalai District.
...
Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of a Writ of mandamus to direct the respondents to remove the caste name which found place in the street name boards at Thesur Town Panchayat, Vandavasi Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District, on the light of G.O.No.1531 dated 3/10/1978, issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu and proceedings in Na.Ka.No.352/2017 dated 6/9/2017 issued by the office of the 3rd Respondent immediately.
For petitioner ...
Mr.R.Surya Prakash for Mr.A.Rajesh Kanna For respondents ...
Mr.E.Manoharan Additional Government Pleader
O R D E R
(Order of the Court was made by SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD, J) Instant writ petition has been filed praying to direct the respondents, to remove the caste name, in the street name boards, in Thesur Town Panchayat, Vandavasi Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District, in the light of G.O.Ms.No.1531, dated 3/10/1978, issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu and proceedings in Na.Ka.No.352/2017, dated 6/9/2017.
2. The Petitioner states that he is residing in Thesur Town Panchayat, Vandavasi Taluk, Thiruvannamalai District, for three generations. He states that there are 52 streets. In Thesur Town, streets have been named in memory of certain persons by including their castes, which is contrary to G.O.Ms.No.1531, Rural Development and Local Administration Department, dated 3/10/1978, issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The said G.O., reads as under:- Rural Development and Local Administration Department Government Order (Standing) No.1531 Date: 3/10/1978
O R D E R
The function of Periyar Century celebrations conducted on 18/9/1978, at Erode, in Tamil nadu, the roads and streets names are with caste names and such caste names are to be removed is announced by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
2. The Government is of the opinion to implement the above Government decision quickly. According to the Chennai Corporation Act, 1919, Section 228 and Madurai Corporation Act, 1971, Section 266 as to change the names of the roads and streets in these corporation the permission of the Government is to be obtained. Hence as to implement the Government decision as stated in para 1 above permission is accorded by this to the Corporation of Madras and Corporation of Madurai. The Commissioners are requested to take immediate action.
3. Similarly, all the Municipalities and all the Panchayat Unions, all the Town Panchayats and all the Panchyats are requested to implement the Government's decision as in para 1 above and to enable to pass resolution of the councils and to take actions.
4. As to implement the Government decision, the steps taken by the Panchayat and Municipalities, the Director of Rural
Development, and the Inspector of Municipalities and the connected District Collectors are to observe the details of implementations of the Government decision and requested to send report to the Government immediately.
(As per Governor Order) K.V.Vasudevan Government Secretary
3. Mr.E.Manoharan, Additional Government Pleader, who took notice on behalf of the respondents submitted that already a Resolution has been passed by the Municipality, for removing the caste, in the name of the streets. He further submitted that objections are being invited from the public, regarding the Resolution.
4. There is no necessity to call for any objection from members of the public. Mandate in G.O.Ms.No.1531 is extremely clear that wherever there is reference to a caste, in the name of roads and streets, the same has to be removed.
5. In the light of the G.O., referred supra, this Writ Petition is disposed of. Respondents are directed to remove the reference to any caste, in the streets/roads, in Thesur Town Panchayat, in the light of G.O.Ms.No.1531, dated 3/10/1998.
6. Registry is directed to post the writ petition, on 19/9/2018, for reporting compliance.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS VI) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar To
1. The District Collector Sathuvachari Vellore District.
2. The Assistant Director O/o. Assistant Director Town Panchayat Vellore Zone Vellore District.
3. The Executive Officer Thesur Town Panchayat Thiruvannamalai District.
+1cc to Mr.A.Rajesh Kanna, Advocate, S.R.No.62201 Writ Petition No.5771 of 2018 NRI(CO) GSP(18/09/2018)