HC orders removal of encroachments

Chennai, May 8 (UNI) Madras High Court has directed the authorities to remove all encroachments by politically influential persons on 'private pata land' in Chennai.

A order to this effect was issued by the First Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice Prabha Sridevan on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Mr V M G Ramanujam,a retired executive engineer with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

The Bench ordered the removal of the encroachments on public space measuring 13,288 square metre located inside an approved lay-out in Tiruvottriyur.

The petitioner submitted that his father made a residential layout on a 6.58-acre extent of land and got it duly approved by civic authorities in 1968.

Complying with statutory conditions,he earmarked 13288 sq mt for public purpose and created 32 housing plots of 3,200 sq ft each.

As required by the law, his father gifted the open land, meant for public purposes like roads, schools and playgrounds to the Municipal Township of Tiruvottriyur.

However,''some politically influential persons trespassed into the open space and occupied it and also put up unauthorised constructions on the land,'' he said.

The authorities had given electricity connection to the encroachers, Mr Ramanujam claimed and sought action to remove the encroachments.

While allowing the petitioner's plea,the Bench directed the CMDA and Tiruvottriyur Municipal authorities to remove encroachments on the public space immediately.

UNI XR RSA BST1055