Mahendra College Of v. The Commissioner Of Town And
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 05.03.2015
CORAM:
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SATISH K. AGNIHOTRI AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.VENUGOPAL W.P. Nos.6024 and 6025 of 2015 and M.P. Nos.1 and 2 of 2015 W.P. No. 6024 of 2015:
Mahendra College of Engineering, represented by its Authorised Signatory Attur Main Road, Minnampalli (Po) Valappadi (Tk), Salem District 636 106 .. Petitioner vs.
1 The Commissioner of Town and Country Planning O/o Directorate of Town and Country Planning 807 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 2 The Member Secretary (incharge) of 3 Minnampalli Village Panchayat, rep. By its President, Minnampalli, Valappadi (Tk) .. Respondents W.P. No. 6025 of 2015 A.V.S.College of Arts and Science, rep. By its Manager, Attur Main Road, Ramalingapuram, Salem District 636 106 .. Petitioner vs.
1 The Commissioner of Town and Country Planning O/o.Directorate of Town and Country Planning 807 Anna Salai Chennai 600 002.
2 The Member Secretary (incharge) of 3 Ayothiapattanam Panchayat Union, rep. By its Commissioner, Ayothiapattanam, Valapadi Taluk, Salem District 636 103.
4 Chinnagoundapuram Village Panchayat, rep. By its President, Chinnagoundapuram, Valappadi Taluk .. Respondents Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of certiorari, calling for the records of the respondents, relating to the orders of the first respondent in D.O. Roc No.9263/2012-UAC dated 21.07.2014 and the orders of the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.648/2011 SeVUThiKu, dated 20.8.2013 and Na.Ka.No.648/2011 SeVUThiKu, dated 13.2.2015 and quash the same. For petitioner in Mr. K. Doraisamy, Sr. Counsel both the WPs for M/s. Muthumani Doraisami For RR 1 & 2 in Mr. P.S. Sivashanmugasundaram both the WPs Special Government Pleader For Respondent-3 in WP 6024/2015 Mr. P. Chinnadurai - - - - - COMMON ORDER (Order of the Court was made by SATISH K. AGNIHOTRI, J.)
These writ petitions are filed challenging the order of the first respondent dated 21.07.2014 in D.O. Roc. No.9263/2012-UAC and the order of the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.648/2011 SeVUThiKu, dated 20.8.2013 and Na.Ka.No.648/2011 SeVUThiKu, dated 13.2.
petitioner institutions have not submitted their approved plan and therefore, the buildings in question will be locked and sealed. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that the petitioner institutions are having approved plan granted by the competent authority/local body and based on the approved plan only, the buildings were constructed prior to 2010. The learned Senior Counsel relied on a Division Bench judgment of this Court in The District Collector and Others vs. Danial Thangaraj and another1 as well as the order of a learned Single Judge in Apesh Construction Ltd. vs. The Corporation of Madurai and an unreported judgment dated 15.06.2012 passed in W.P. No.11031 of 2011, in support of his contentions.
The impugned notices dated 20.8.2013 and 13.02.2015 were passed based on D.O.Roc No.9263/2012-UAC dated 21.07.2014, which is also impugned in these writ petitions and the said proceedings reads as follows:
"D.O. from Commissioner D.O. Roc.No.9263/2012-UAC dated 21.07.2014 Dear Thiru. . . .
Sub: Unauthorised educational institutions - Enforcement action like locking and sealing of the premises to be taken without any delay - Regarding. Ref: This office letters of even no.dated 28.08.2012 and 08.01.2013.
You are aware that a list of total colleges including engineering colleges, arts and science colleges, B.Ed. Colleges, ITI, medical colleges and para medical colleges functioning within your jurisdiction was sent to you vide reference cited above and you were requested to take action against those unauthorised colleges after verifying with the approval register of your office. It is learnt that unauthorised construction notice has been issued by your office to most of the unauthorised colleges and schools within your area but, enforcement action as envisaged in the sections 56 and 57 of the Tamil Nadu Town and country Planning Act, 1971 like locking and sealing of the premises have not been proceeded against those institutions.
Your are hereby instructed to issue notice to unauthorised educational institutions for which notice was not issued so far and to take enforcement action like locking and sealing of those institutions for which notice was already issued and sufficient time as required under sections 56 and 57 is over.
area and any slackness in this regard will be viewed very seriously and the officials of the field office will be held fully responsible. You are also requested to get in touch with the District Collector concerned and appraise regarding this subject to proceed with the enforcement action smoothly and effectively. You are requested to send an action taken report in this regard early." Yours sincerely (R. Venkatesan) To Assistant Director/Member Secretary of all Composite Local Planning Authorities New Town Development authorities and Regional Deputy Directors (incharge)"
Since the petitioners/educational institutions are contending that they have obtained the approval plan from the competent authority and the buildings were constructed as per the approved plan, it is open to the petitioners/educational institutions to submit their objections/representations about the impugned notices dated 20.8.2013 and 13.02.2015. The impugned notices were issued based on the communication issued by the Commissioner/Director of Town and Country Planning, Chennai - 2. The Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning is directed to get a clarification from the Commissioner/Director of the Town and Country Planning, Chennai - 2, who is bound to clarify, to take further action in the matter, as the action initiated is based on the D.O. Roc.No.9263/2012-UAC issued by the Commissioner dated 21.07.2014.
After receiving the said clarification, the Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning of Salem Region is directed to pass a speaking order in accordance with law, within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Till fresh orders are passed by the Deputy Director of Salem Region as stated supra, status quo as obtained today in respect of the buildings of the petitioners/educational institutions, shall be maintained by both the parties.
These writ petition are disposed of with the above direction. No costs. Connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. ra s/d- Assistant Registrar(CS-III) Dt:11/3/2015 True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar
To The Commissioner of Town and Country Pllanning Directorate of Town and Country Planning 807 Anna Salai Chennai 600 002.
The Deputy Director of Town land Country Planning Salem Region, Salem District.
The Member Secretary (incharge) of The President, Minnampalli Village Panchayat, Minnampalli, Valappadi (Tk) The Commissioner, Ayothiapattanam Panchayat Union, Ayothiapattanam, Valapadi Taluk, Salem District 636 103.
6 The President, Chinnagoundapuram Village Panchayat, Chinnagoundapuram, Valappadi Taluk + 1 cc to M/s.Muthumani Doraisami, Advocate SR 12117 + 1 cc to M/s.Muthumani Doraisami, Advocate SR 12118 gp(co) prk11/3 Common order in W.P. Nos.6024 and 6025 of 2015