HC disposes PIL on Kodanad estate row

Chennai, Jun 12 (UNI) Madras High Court today disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking a direction to the authorities concerned to demolish the unauthorised constructions put up in Kodanad Tea Estate, allegedly owned by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and her close aide Sasikala.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice P Jyothimani disposed of the PIL filed by Kothagiri Panchayat Union Chairman Mr K M Raju.

In its order, the Bench said Additional Advocate General P S Raman stated that the Panchayat had already issued notice under Rule 34 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act and Building Rules on June 5, 2007 and was contemplating further action in this regard.

Mr N Jyothi, appearing for Sasikala submitted that the Kodanad Tea Estate had already challenged the notice issued by the Panchayat and it was now pending before a Single Judge.

According to him, the State had no jurisdiction under the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Act and the action was wholly illegal and contrary to law.

''We are not inclined to entertain this PIL. The issue as to whether the action of the authorities was legal or not was pending consideration before the single judge who will deal with this issue in an appropriate manner and no opinion need to be expressed by this court on this PIL. PIL stands disposed of accordingly. All the contentions of the parties are left open to be agitated in the writ petition'', the bench added.

Earlier, during the course of arguments, Mr Raman submitted that besides building issue, there was a much more serious problem. In the course of its construction in March 2006, the estate owner had obtained permission and cut down 2000 silver oak trees.

An application for felling 8,000 silver oak trees was made by the owner and a Committee headed by the District Collector, constituted under the Tamil Nadu Hill Area Preservation Council, granted permission for felling 2000 trees. It involved environmental degradation, he added.

Senior Counsel Mr V T Gopalan appearing for the petitioner submitted that a jungle stream had been blocked and artificial lake created within the estate.

UNI