Life Insurance Corporation Of India v. The Commissioner

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 02.02.2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN Life Insurance Corporation of India rep. By its Secretary (Estates) Zonal Office, LIC Building No.153, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 :

Petitioner versus The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Rippon Building, Chennai 3 and 7 others :

Respondents For Petitioner :

Mr.Manoj Sreevalsan For Respondents :

Mr.S.Gopinath, Senior Standing counsel, for respondents 1 and 2

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) We find that despite several orders passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court way back on 26.07.2025, and orders passed by this Court from time to time, the respondent authorities are not serious in complying with the order of the Court and only as an eye-wash some small removals are taking place since last six months.

2. Even now, we find from the communication of the Executive Engineer, Zone V, Greater Chennai Corporation, dated 30.01.2026, that only 25% of demolition has taken place.

3. The snail's pace at which the demolition is taking place is assigned to inability to use mechanical operator tools because of the narrow approach to the building and therefore, manual operation is being carried out.

4. Mr.M.Palani, Executive Engineer, Zone V, Greater Chennai Corporation, Mr.G.Kannan, Assistant Executive Engineer, Unit 14 and

Mr.Bala Muthuraman, Assistant Engineer, Division 63, Greater Chennai Corporation, are present in Court.

5. The explanation offered is far from satisfactory. Before holding the officers guilty of contempt and imposing appropriate jail sentence for willful disobedience of the order of the Court, one month's time is granted to submit a report before the Court regarding complete demolition, as the building is only on a land ad-measuring 800 sq.ft. housing a small building.

6. The Commissioner, Chennai Corporation, is directed to ensure that sufficient number of labourers are deployed at the spot to ensure complete demolition within one month.

7. List on 03.03.2026.

(MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CJ.) (G.ARUL MURUGAN, J.) 02.02.2026 TAR